December

Japanese Season & Habit

In December thereis a custom to present something to those who have done a favor for us during the year.

We call it "Seibo" or year-end present. We do the same thing during mid-summer and it is called "Ochugen" or mid-year present.

Besides cleaning and decorating the house for the New Year, every housewife keeps herself busy preparing traditional New Year dishes called "Osechi" and pounded rice-cakes called "Omochi".

On December 31, that is on New Year's Eve, we eat buckwheat noodles so that we may have a long life.
At mid-night temples around the country ring out their bells 108 times.
The bells have the meaning of driving away our 108 kinds of worldly troubles.