New Year is a big holiday in Japan and there are many customs associated with it. Many here would be at home on New Year's Eve watching a television show called Kohaku (red/white) when two teams (the red team and the white team) made up of different artistes, some modern groups, some individuals who sing more traditional Japanese songs, compete against each other. After that the television cameras, depending on the channel, either take you to a temple for the ringing of the bell to welcome the new year or to a more lively countdown. The New Year holiday here is now becoming a little like Christmas in the west. Even though it was once a holiday marked by most people, now business seems to dictate that some malls and shops need to be open on 1st January. For many though, it is a rare opportunity for a few days' consecutive holiday often spent with family eating traditional New Year food.
One custom which is marked at this time of year is send a New Year's card to friends and colleagues. Some send and receive hundreds. These are delivered on the 1st (though some cards still arrive over the following few days). This year we had to do this differently. When there has been a death in the family during the year, the custom is to send special cards earlier in December to advise people of this and to tell them you will not send the normal New Year's card. They would then not send you a New Year's card. Some however do still send a card - perhaps those sending for the first time or those who did not receive the special card in December. In that event, we will send them a special card later in January. It's quite something to keep up with what is appropriate! It seems that it can be different for our boys sending cards to their friends. We are thankful for good Japanese friends to keep us right!
Another custom here is to visit the local shrine either on the 1st or during the first few days of the New Year. Christians of course do not mark this practice and churches would tend to have a special worship service on the morning of the 1st. We did that this morning at Hiragishi - just a simple service to allow people to give thanks for the New Year, to spend time in worship and to reflect briefly on God's Word as we go into another year. We enjoyed having some friends from Otaru days (as well as some of their relatives) join us for this service.
We do not know what this year will bring. But it was great to ponder Psalm 1 this morning with its encouragement to be people who delight in God's Word and walk in his ways.
One custom which is marked at this time of year is send a New Year's card to friends and colleagues. Some send and receive hundreds. These are delivered on the 1st (though some cards still arrive over the following few days). This year we had to do this differently. When there has been a death in the family during the year, the custom is to send special cards earlier in December to advise people of this and to tell them you will not send the normal New Year's card. They would then not send you a New Year's card. Some however do still send a card - perhaps those sending for the first time or those who did not receive the special card in December. In that event, we will send them a special card later in January. It's quite something to keep up with what is appropriate! It seems that it can be different for our boys sending cards to their friends. We are thankful for good Japanese friends to keep us right!
We do not know what this year will bring. But it was great to ponder Psalm 1 this morning with its encouragement to be people who delight in God's Word and walk in his ways.
