Japanese New Year's holiday 日本のお正月

A Happy New Year to you!

明けましておめでとうございます。

（あけましておめでとうございます。AKEMASHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU）

お正月（おしょうがつ・OSHOUGATSU）is the New Year in Japanese.

People visit temples and shrines to make a new year wish during OSHOUGATSU which is called 初詣（はつもうで・HATSUMOUDE）.

We celebrate the New Year by eating お節料理（おせちりょうり・OSECHI RYOURI）.

Osechi-ryouri (shortened to Osechi) are traditional festive Japanese foods eaten during the New Year period. They are served in lacquered “stacking boxes” known as JUUBAKO, which has the symbolic meaning of “stacking up the happiness.

Most of the items in Osechi-ryouri has a meaning of good luck such as Shrimp(to live long until your back is curved like a shrimp), Lotus root (to see a bright prospect in life), Herring roe (To be blessed with many children), Mashed sweet potatoes with sweetened chestnuts (to become wealthy) etc.

Japanese kids receive money from their parents, relatives which is called お年玉（おとしだま・OTOSHIDAMA）in a small special envelope.

There are lots more about our New Years customs.

Hoping your new year is a wonderful one.