During the year-end holiday season, people from all around the world put a pause on their busy schedules to spend time with their family (or drink to numb the pain of having to spend so much time with crazy family). That being said, everyone has their own traditions for this festive time. Mine actually starts after the mythical man in the red suit climbs down the chimney. It starts on December 31st.
Photo by Tiffany Rika Russell
My family lives in Tokyo, Japan. I travel over 11 hours on a tightly packed, loud airplane always looking forward to the trip. Celebrating with my family helps me “reboot” into the new year.
In Japan, every little aspect of ringing in the new year is about cleansing – preparing yourself for a great year to come. It all starts on December 31st when the whole family pitches in to deep clean everything. And when I say deep clean…I mean really deep clean. Nothing is left untouched, from the back of the pantry that holds all the opened, half-empty bags of stale chips to your closet that doesn’t even look like it uses hangers anymore. If you haven’t touched it or used it in the past 6 months, it should already be in the trash, including old clothes. Cleaning isn’t always much fun, no matter how organized you are, but it’ll go by quickly when you see all the progress you’ve made!
Photo by Tiffany Rika Russell
When the clock strikes midnight, the temples and shrines all around Japan introduce the new year with the gong of a bell. Families bundle up in their puffy down-filled coats to pay respects to their local shrine or temple in preparation for the new year. Whether snowing or just plain cold, you will see a line of people outside waiting to pray. To finish off the new year’s day, we eat noodles, a symbol of long life.
Photo by Tiffany Rika Russell
The following day, or the 2nd day of the year, it’s time to head over to the ji-xu-ka’s house, otherwise known as your grandparents’ house. Once, there you eat annual osetchi, a box filled with foods filled with different meanings to bring you the best for the year to come. Beans represent fortune and seafood stands for good health. Every morsel has meaning, making the meal even more special.
Tiffany Rika Russell
With everything that goes on in our daily lives, I think it’s important to realize how precious our time is on earth and give thanks to everything from the dumb jokes your grandfather makes when he’s drunk to the time you spend with family you might only see a few times per year. Some people don’t believe in the fad of the new year, but I think it’s not just an excuse to make new year’s resolutions. It’s an opportunity to reevaluate and explore the possibilities for the new year. Cherish your loved ones, take time for yourself, and live every moment to the fullest. This is your year to be your best self.
By: Tiffany Rika Russell