My trip to Japan for the new year seemed short but enjoyed Japanese tradition and culture. I have in the U.S for 5 years. In this time, before the new year, I felt so excited to celebrate and starting a new year.
General cleaning in preparation for New Year’s Day
Prepare special food called Osechi Special dishes for the New Year We also need Mochi and eat Ozuni soup with Mochi and other ingredients varied from home to home.Mochi is essencial to the New Year.
Family and relatives get together and eat and talk together. Fun and relaxed.
I go to church instead of shrine after I got baptized. I used to shrine before and ask deity for health and happiness and success.
I did everything this year and I enjoyed congratulatory atmosphere! Also I found myself feel little different from my family in Japan maybe because of I am used to verbal communication while in Japan they depend much more on nonverbal communication. Interesting!