What is Oosouji?
Oosouji is a Japanese word that literally means cleanliness, although it does not only refer to the cleanliness of our environment, but also to cleanliness of the mind.
What do Japanese decorate their house with for Lunar New Year?
Amaterasu and the Cave For the new year, families hang a shime-kazari (しめ飾り) decoration (which often consists of a shime-nawa braided rope and a daidai (the native Japanese word for the color “orange” is daidai, not “orenji”!), a variety of bitter orange) at the entrance to their homes.
What is in Osechi?
What’s in Osechi Ryori?
- Kuromame. PIXTA. Kuromame are sweet black soybeans that bring health for the coming year.
- Kazunoko. PIXTA. Kazunoko are crunchy strips of yellow herring roe marinated in dashi (soup stock).
- Kamaboko. PIXTA.
- Salmon Kombu. PIXTA.
- Satoimo Potatoes. PIXTA.
- Daidai Orange. PIXTA.
Why do the Japanese clean their houses before the New Year arrives?
Just before the very end of the year, Japanese people participate in what is commonly known as “osouji,” a deep cleaning of one’s household that is highly believed to cleanse the home and purify the residence in order to welcome “Toshigami,” the kami (Shinto deity) of the New Year.
How do I clean my house for New Years?
New Year Cleaning: How to Deep Clean the Easy Way
- First, Gather Your Cleaning Equipment and Products.
- Don’t Vacuum Around Furniture, Move It And Vacuum Thoroughly.
- Open Windows and Doors To Air Out The House.
- Bring Things Outside for New Year Cleaning.
- Get Low When New Year Deep Cleaning.
- Practice Simple Cleaning Habits.
Why do the Japanese hang a rope of straw across their front door during the New Year?
Traditionally woven from hemp, but nowadays more frequently rice or wheat straw, this rope and its shide paper streamers is a common part of New Year decorations as well. The shimenawa is a special rope tied around or across an object or space to denote its sanctity or purity.
What are some Japanese New Year traditions?
7 Japanese New Year’s Traditions
- Joya no kane. Every year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bonsho (temple bells) an even 108 times, an event known as joya no kane.
- Toshikoshi soba.
- O-sechi ryori.
- Mochi.
- Nenga.
- Hatsumode.
- Hatsuhinode.
Why are Japanese so hygienic?
Rooted in Religious Beliefs But the Japanese sense of hygiene has a deeper meaning as it is rooted in their religious beliefs, Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto originated in Japanese people and tradition, has purification rituals before subjecting themselves to prayer.
What are Japanese lucky bags?
Fukubukuro (福袋, Japanese: [ɸɯ̥kɯbɯꜜkɯɾo] “lucky bag”) is a Japanese New Year custom in which merchants make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within.
Where do you put a kadomatsu?
Kadomatsu – New Year’s Decorations Kadomatsu are paired bamboo and pine decorations that are set to the left and right of the entrance ways of a building in order to invite the god of the New Year (Toshigamisama) to bless that location for the coming year.
What is Mochu Hagaki?
Mochū hagaki (pictured above) are postcards sent out to friends, relatives, co-workers, and others in December or earlier, notifying them that due to the death of family member in the past year they are in mourning and will therefore be unable to send nengajō (年賀状), or New Year’s greeting cards.
Why is nengajo important?
Much like the holiday cards and greetings exchanged in the West, nengajo are an important part of Japan’s New Year’s festivities. The custom can be traced back to the long established tradition of nenshi-mawari, or New Year’s visits.
What is osoji (osoji)?
Osoji (pronounced as Oh-Soh-Jee), is a widely practiced Japanese ritual that translates into “big cleaning/cleanup.” Often done at the end of December, its roots can be traced to another Japanese year-end tradition of susu-harai or “to dust the soot away.”
Do Japanese people know the meaning of flowers?
These days, many Japanese are unaware that flowers have traditional meanings. However, flower meanings do make occasional appearances in modern popular culture such as manga and anime. These are amongst the most popular flowers in Japan.
What are the most common flowers in Japan?
The Japanese culture attributes meaning to many flowers. The following includes the most common flowers with meanings other than those listed above to symbolize different types of love. White Camelia – Waiting. Cherry Blossoms – Kindness and Gentleness. Daffodil – Respect. Daisy – Faithfulness. Hydrangea – Pride.
What are the names of the flowers in Genji’s life?
Flower included: evening glory, saffron flower, hollyhock, orange blossoms, lavender, morning glory, plum, cherry blossoms, carnations, and many others. She gives many of the women in Genji’s life the names of flowers.