New Year's Day
A day to celebrate the beginning of the new year
Ganjitsu (New Year's Day) is a national holiday celebrated on January 1st. According to the Public Holiday Law, its purpose is "to celebrate the beginning of the year." It is one of the most important and historic holidays in Japan.
Background and Historical Context
Ganjitsu was established in 1948 by the Public Holiday Law. However, the custom of celebrating the new year dates back to the Asuka period. Before the Meiji era, Japan used a lunisolar calendar, and the new year fell around late January to mid-February. With the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, January 1st became the official New Year's Day.
Cultural Significance and Customs
New Year's Day is considered a sacred day to welcome the Toshigami (Year God) into each home. Kadomatsu (pine decorations) and shimenawa (sacred ropes) serve as markers for the god, while kagami mochi (mirror rice cakes) act as the god's temporary dwelling.
People traditionally eat Osechi-ryori, a special assortment of foods where each ingredient holds a specific wish (e.g., black beans for hard work, herring roe for fertility). Other customs include hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year), giving otoshidama (money envelopes) to children, and watching the first sunrise.