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Japanese New Year: Shrines
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Families often go together to visit shrines where New Year's fortunes, printed on strips of white paper, are given out. Each person ties his or her fortune to small tree branches outside of the shrine. When many strips of paper are tied to the tree, it looks like it is in full bloom. Most shrines have a flame that never goes out. Each family gets a light from the flame and takes is back to light their stove at home. One Japanese saying goes, "A spark from the life-long flame will keep sickness away."
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During the New Year, the Japanese customarily visit Shinto-shrines for hatsumode, or New Year pilgrimage to shrines that lie in a lucky direction. They believe that the God of the year comes from a lucky direction that varies each year.
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At midnight, the Buddhist temples toll out the requisite 108 peals on their bells summoning in the New Year. T.V. stations broadcast the centers of activity at the various major shrines around the country and show the ringing of the massive temple bells at famous temples. People at the shrines get as close as they can to the main altar and cast coins and paper money at the doorsteps of the shrine. After making their offering, they clap their hands to summon the gods, then pray. At the local, less popular shrines where people can get close to the entrance, people toss their offering into the offeratory box, pull the cord attached to the bell hanging from the rafter in front of the box, then clap their hands and pray.
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"At midnight on New Year's Eve, we'd always go to the local shrine," she said. "There were so many people - the kids were dressed up, the bells were ringing, there was a lot of clapping. It was very festive."
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People send a lot of greeting cards to their relatives, friends, business acquaintances and customers to wish them a happy New Year. Post offices in Japan collect and keep them then deliver them on the New Year day all at once. This is a good opportunity to keep in touch with old friends and acquaintances.Picture roadside to a shrine (c) Hirotsugu Oi .
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Although only Jan. 1 is an official holiday, the first three days of the year are recognized as the New Year Holiday period. During the period, a variety of traditional events are carried out. Families, relatives and friends get together to celebrate and exchange New Year’s greetings, prayers are offered at shrines and temples, and houses are decorated with shimekazari, sacred straw tassels, and kadomatsu, gate pine, both symbolic of happiness and purity.
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