2008: The Year of the Mouse

New Year's is the most popular holiday in Japan. But it's not a one-day event as in the States, it's usually several days of celebrations. And it's not complete without the appropriate Chinese zodiac representation, which you see all over stores this time of year. This year happens to be the year of the mouse, so here we have three mice rolls, for example. Why three? One for Sydney and her two friends.

Why mouse instead of rat? I have a theory. It may be fact, I have no idea. I believe the Chinese zodiac calls 2008 the year of the rat. But rats are so "inner city"; mice are much more "suburban." So, I think the genteel Japanese prefer to refer to 2008 as the year of the mouse, since it sounds much more socially acceptable and kawaii, ne? I digress...

Speaking of dirty rodents, in the days preceeding the New Year, there is also a preparation period of deep cleaning within Japanese homes to rid the home of dirt from the past year and approach the fresh New Year. I could show you a picture of our house's "dirt from the past year" (and a half, actually), since I didn't participate in this cleaning ritual. But I won't.

Beginning the day after Christmas and ending January 7th, traditional decorations called kodamatsu are placed in pairs, representing male and female, outside the front gate of a home to welcome ancesteral spirits. They are typically made of pine, bamboo and sometimes ume (plum) branches, representing longevity, prosperity and steadfastness, respectively. Sometimes there are three bamboo shoots, representing heaven, humanity and earth. Sometimes shimekazari, a twisted straw rope with fern leaves, an orange and other items of good omen, are placed outside the home.

New Year's foods usually include mochi, which is a very chewy and sticky rice cake made from sticky rice that is pounded repeatedly until it forms a cake. It is usually prepared prior to New Year's Day in mochi-pounding ceremonies and then eaten on New Year's Day or early in January. Because of its very sticky texture, elderly or very young people have been known to actually die from choking on mochi. The day after New Year's Day a mochi-related death toll is often reported in newspapers. I think it's obviously only considered auspicious if you survive eating it. And we did! Here's our mochi all puffed up as it toasted in our Japanese toaster/microwave/grill oven.

Of course, other (safer) traditional foods are eaten and referred to as osechi. These are usually sweet, sour or dried foods, which didn't require refrigeration back in the day since stores were closed on New Year's Day (as many still are today.)

To ring in the new year, many Japanese people visit shrines on New Year's Eve through the night to hear the 108 temple chimes at midnight, which are believed to release people from the 108 wordly sins. Sometimes people visit shrines on New Year's Day to experience the first visit of the year, since "firsts" are often considered important and auspicious.

Japanese people also traditionally send New Year's post cards, called nengajo, which are guaranteed by the Post Office to arrive exactly on New Year's Day if sent by the deadline. These cards can be preprinted cards, or hand-made or stamped. But most cards have the Chinese zodiac sign of the New Year as their design. (Interestingly, it is customary not to send these postcards when one has had a death in the family during the year. In this case, a simple postcard is sent instead to inform friends and relatives that they should not send joyful New Year's cards, in order to show respect for the deceased.)

Also on New Year's Day, people give special pocket money allowances to their children, nephews and nieces called Otoshidama, which is a Chinese custom. It is handed out in small decorated envelopes called pochibukuro.

Thought you'd enjoy hearing about these New Year's customs!

Happy New Year!

あけましておめでとうございます!

Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu!