A Happy New Year.
Thank you for visiting us. Today, I want to tell you how do Japanese people spend on New Year’s days.
On New Year’s day, we pay a visit to shrines or temples to pray for happiness and good health of the year. 
Also, it is popular to draw fortune papers, write prayer plaques and get charms there.
I feel lucky that I had an experience working at a shrine on New Year’s days.
The name of the job is Miko(巫女), and Miko is a helper of a shrine’s priest. I felt I was a part of the Holy Spirit while working there, and it made me feel like I was going to have a peaceful year. It was a spiritual experience, but the best thing of all, was wearing the lovely uniform! It was a privilege of young girls.
As a traditional way, all relatives gather at a house to celebrate the New Year’s days. We eat “Osechi” for several days.
Every food in Osechi has a wish. For example, black beans mean health and chestnuts means victory.
We look forward to exchanging New Year’s cards with relatives and friends.
Then, children receive “Otoshi-Dama(pocket money)” from their parents and relatives.
Also, we enjoy going shopping for New Year’s sales. Every shop sells “lucky bags”, which we can’t see inside. The shops usually put assortment of goods that are left unsold, but it’s worth more than it says. “We hope”(!) 
For Japanese people, New Year’s celebration is an important event for keeping friendships and bonding with family members.
Posted by Saya
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