The New Year Day

In the new year day in Japan, we　say 'Happy New Year' to everyone we meet and the children get money from adults, but they cannot use the money they got from adults because it is said that if they used the money in that day, they would be poor in the year.

We visit the shrine in Japanese traditional wear in that morning and greet the gods of the shrine. Some people pray their wish at the time for the year.

Children play with kites or tops the new year day and do　a special piece of calligraphy for the New Year the 3rd Jan. We write the words they decide for that year with the ink made from water that we gathered from leaves in that morning.

Plus, we eat Japanese traditional foods called osechi(おせち) in the new year day. It is one of the most expensive dishes in Japan. We make it by using the products which have good meanings in Japan.

In the department stores, it is on a very big sale there, and there usually are a lot of people looking for good things.


We have many ways to spend the new year day in Japan.
How about America?