Date: January 1 (midnight, December 31)

The Japanese celebrate the incoming new year on the first of January (Oshogatsu). In Japan Christmas was not really celebrated historically although it is slowly gaining in popularity now.  However, Christmas is more like Valentine’s Day in Japan and it is Oshogatsu which holds the most similarity with Christmas.  Oshogatsu is a public holiday and is the time of year that is really about family. Everyone gets together and there are specific foods which are only eaten at Oshogatsu.

There are also a few children’s games that are historically played at Oshogatsu, which makes this a time of year for the younger children to enjoy. While the tradition is slowly dying out, it is also customary for children to receive money in the form of Otoshidama. This is usually a small amount of money wrapped in a special envelope. Another thing which is popular at this time of year is the sending and receiving on Nengajo, cards wishing friends and family a happy New Year.

Two of the typical foods served at this time are Omochi (sticky pounded rice cakes) and Osechi (various rice snacks made with seasonal vegetables and fish).