Hatsumōde

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Overcrowded Meiji Shrine for Hatsumōde.

Hatsumode (初詣, hatsumōde^?) is the first shrine visit of the New Year in Japan. Some people visit a Buddhist temple instead. Many people go during the first, second, or third day of the year as most are off work on those days. Generally, one makes wishes for the new year, gets new o-mamori (charms or amulets), and returns the old ones so they can be burned. There are often long lines at major shrines in throughout Japan.

Most Japanese are off work from the 29th of December until the 3rd of January. It is during this time that the house is cleaned, debts are paid, friends and family are visited and gifts are exchanged. It would be customary to spend the early morning of New Year's Day in domestic worship, followed by sake - often containing edible gold flakes - and special celebration food. During hatsumode, it is common for men to wear full kimono - one of the rare chances to see them so across a year. The act of worship is generally quite brief and individual and may involve queuing at popular shrines. The omamori may vary substantially in value/price even at a particular location.

Some shrines and temples gather millions of people in three days.