Japanese New Year

正月 shôgatsu

New Year (shôgatsu = “first month of the year”) is Japan’s most important religious festival. Most people eat soba noodles on New Year’s Eve, a custom that promises long life – and a new happy year to those who witness the first sunrise. The days off from work are usually family-oriented. Throughout the country, temples and shrines are visited = hatsumode, to ask for good luck and health for the new year and to invest money in all kinds of lucky charms.