Omisoka Festival and Traditions in Japan - Japanese New Year Eve

It is common to clean the whole house (called osoji) on this day. Primary schools also perform osoji (literally means “big cleaning”) before they go into their winter vacation. Osoji is done to remove dirt and clutter from the old year as well as to purify the home and welcome the coming year. Many people will settle all their debts, obligations and problems in relationships.

After cleaning, many homes are festooned with special auspicious images. A kadomatsu – made of bamboo, pine boughs and straw is placed on either side of the front entrance to attract good fortune. Shimekazari – a decoration which indicates that your home has been purified and ready to welcome the divinities. It is hung over the door to bring happiness and ward off evil spirits.

On the New Year’s Eve, they will have the largest dinner of the year. People spend the time together with their family preparing traditional new year’s meal called osechi ryouri. A variety of ingredients such as black beans, fish and rolled kelp are used. Usually, all dishes are made before the New Year since many Japanese believe that cooking during the first 3 days of the New Year is considered inauspicious. At around 11 pm, the Japanese will taditionally eat toshikoshiudon or toshikoshisoba (buckwheat noodles) to see the old year out. Eating long noodles is associated with enjoying a long life.

Shortly before midnight and the crossing of the year, shrines and temples across Japan will strike their gongs 108 times. Buddhists believe that mankind has 108 sins that stop them from reaching nirvana. The Japanese believe that ringing the bells 108 times at the end of the year will free us of those sins for the beginning of the New Year.