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Japanese New Year: New Years
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The New Year’s celebration in Japan was the one time of the year that mothers and housewives could get a few days off of work. All the cooking was finished before the new year and no cooking was done for the three days (with the exception of ozoni, a kind of soup).
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From the evening of the sixth day of the New Year, a special soup called o-kayu is prepared, using the seven herbs of spring (haru no nanakusa). Kayu is made by boiling cooked rice in water until it breaks down and forms a porridge-like texture, to which the seven herbs are added. Consuming this mixture is thought to bring health, good spirits and extended longevity for the coming year.
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According to Sullwold, the officers of the Japanese Association at Kearney (JAK) organized the event so that non-Japanese students can learn about how New Year's Day is celebrated in Japan. As a part of the celebration, several traditional Japanese plays will be performed.
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Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate, with each new year providing a fresh start. Consequently, all duties are supposed to be completed by the end of the year, while bonenkai parties ("year forgetting parties") are held with the purpose of leaving the old year's worries and troubles behind.
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New Year parties are a huge part of the celebrations and are held for the office, local areas, clubs, friends and any other group you can think of. The name of these parties means to 'forget bad things in a year'. Games are played and everyone, adult and child alike, enjoys themselves.
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George Washington began the custom of holding a party on New Year's Day where everyone was welcome. This became known as having an "open house" and is still done in many places today.
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