From well before dawn on New Year's
Day, people flock to shrines and temples to pray for a healthy and happy
year This is called hatsu-mode and is one of the most important rituals
of the year. When we greet our acquaintances, moreover, we say "Akemashite
omedeto gozaimasu" (a happy new year) convey our wishes that the year to
come will be full of hope and good health.
Some people like to make this "Hatsumoude" on
midnight on December 31st ,when crowds gather at famous shrinesand temples,
such as Meiji Shrine and Sensouji Temple in Tokyo.
Long before midnight people line up for the chance
to be the first ones to pray and give offerings of money just after the
stroke of midnight. The whole process of getting up to the offering box
can be painful and dangerous to say the least. If you look closely you
can see money in the air. Be careful if you are at the front because not
everyone's aim is good and money might hit you in the back of the head.
Meiji Shrine
The Meiji shrine is most famous of Hatsumoude in Japan. It is a relatively new shrine which is located in a large park in the middle of Tokyo city. It was built for the emperor Meiji after his death and completed in the year 1920. The shrine was destroyed during World War II, but it was rebuilt afterwards.
Divinefavor
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Healthlong-lifestudiesaccomplishment
Successprayerprosperityinbusiness Success-in-lifebetterluck
After you pray to the god for good fortune
in the new year, you can draw a shrine lot called 'omikuji' in Japanese.It
tells you what your new years will be like.
BeginningonNewYear'sEveandcontinuingintoNewYear'sDay,
thebellsinBuddhisttemplesarerungtoannouncethepassingoftheoldyear
andthecomingofnew.Thebellsarerungatotalof108times.