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Dragon dances, purple packets crammed with money, decorations with a brand new animal yearly…all of those are simply recognizable symbols of Lunar New Yr. Generally that is even known as “Chinese language New Yr.” The celebrations think of traditions from East Asia, however does that embody all nations from the area? Is shōgatsu (正月), Japan’s New Yr traditions, simply one other phrase for Lunar New Yr?
Let’s dive into the main points under!
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What’s Lunar New Yr?
Lunar New Yr is the celebration surrounding the beginning of the lunisolar calendar and the start of spring. It’s a very powerful vacation in China, however it is usually celebrated in Vietnam, South and North Korea, and nations with excessive Chinese language populations. Traditions differ between nations, however all place a deal with welcoming the brand new yr, spending time with household, and having fun with particular meals for the vacation.
Historically, Lunar New Yr is a fifteen-day, nationwide celebration. As a result of it’s primarily based on the lunisolar calendar, the dates usually are not the identical yearly on the Gregorian calendar. In 2023, Lunar New Yr started on January twenty second, however the 2024 Lunar New Yr will start on February tenth. Regardless of this wide selection, the primary day of Lunar New Yr will at all times fall between January twenty first and February twentieth.
Why is the zodiac vital to Lunar New Yr?
You could be aware of the Western zodiac utilized in astrology that’s segmented into 12-month cycles and related to the celebs and planets. For instance, an individual born between March twenty first and April nineteenth is an “Aries” and an individual born between September twenty third and October twenty second is a “Libra.” Every of those 12 indicators have quite a lot of traits with fortune-telling features comparable to character and romantic compatibility.
The Chinese language zodiac consists of 12-year cycles fairly than 12 months. On this zodiac, the yr you’re born beneath the lunisolar calendar is your related signal. Every year is tied to certainly one of 12 animals:
- Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
- Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
- Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
- Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
- Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
- Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
- Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
- Sheep: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
- Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
- Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
- Canine: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
- Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Different features of the zodiac embody tie-ins to the 5 Chinese language components (earth, water, fireplace, wooden, and steel). These animals additionally differ barely relying on the nation, comparable to Vietnam utilizing the cat and buffalo as a substitute of the rabbit and ox.
Does Japan have fun Lunar New Yr?
Not precisely. Out of the entire holidays in Japan, New Yr’s is a very powerful, however that pertains to the Japanese shōgatsu traditions which start on January 1st, following the Gregorian calendar.
Lunar New Yr just isn’t celebrated in Japan at massive, however there are some areas that placed on occasions. The 2 largest minority teams in Japan are Chinese language and Korean, so these communities proceed to watch Lunar New Yr following their very own traditions. After Japan’s annexation of Korea in 1910, the Korean inhabitants elevated drastically for the primary few many years of the twentieth century and lots of of their descendents reside in Japan as Japanese residents at the moment. In the meantime, Chinese language migration to Japan picked up within the late nineteenth century when Japan opened commerce after an extended interval of isolation. The three main Chinatowns (or chūkagai 中華街) in Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki proceed to thrive at the moment.
Fashionable-day Japan doesn’t have fun Lunar New Yr the identical method its neighbors do, however a number of shōgatsu traditions are comparable given their shared historical past. Cleansing the house earlier than the primary day of the brand new yr is vital to brush away the issues of final yr in each Lunar New Yr and shōgatsu (referred to as ōsōji 大掃除, or “huge cleansing”). Whereas kids celebrating Lunar New Yr obtain cash in purple envelopes with gold lettering, Japanese kids celebrating shōgatsu get their cash in white and purple envelopes (referred to as otoshidama お年玉, or “yr’s jewel”). You could discover much more connections the extra you find out about shōgatsu traditions!
Similar to Lunar New Yr itself, the Chinese language zodiac has influences in Japan’s New Yr celebrations. In Japanese, that is known as jūnishi (十二支, twelve branches) or eto (干支, sexagenary cycle) and can also be utilized in fortune telling. Nevertheless, the animals additionally play a central function within the New Yr celebrations of any given yr.
2023 is the Yr of the Rabbit, so rabbits featured in some decorations for the brand new yr. Vacation playing cards (nengajō 年賀状), banners, retailer commercials, and extra have been embellished bunnies in all places. 2024 would be the Yr of the Dragon, so an identical theme might be discovered utilizing photos of dragons.
On January fifteenth, some Japanese individuals nonetheless observe “Little New Yr” or koshōgatsu (小正月). This takes place on the primary full moon of the yr in a nod to Lunar New Yr. Households eat a rice and adzuki bean porridge referred to as azukigayu (小豆粥) to have fun, sticking bamboo cylinders into the dish earlier than consuming. The quantity of rice within the cylinder is claimed to point how bountiful the following yr’s harvest might be.
In fashionable Japan, that is additionally the day most decorations are taken down and the Japanese god of the New Yr, toshigami (年神, yr god) is bid mata rainen (また来年, see you subsequent yr) till subsequent yr.
>> Get the information on Japanese honorifics to have fun each vacation with respect.
Why did Japan largely cease celebrating Lunar New Yr?
Japan has an extended and storied historical past with China. Commerce and diplomatic relations between the 2 nations date way back to the start of the widespread period. China launched Buddhism, structure, rice cultivation, and even the writing system nonetheless used at the moment (kanji 漢字). The kan- in kanji itself means “China”!
Lunar New Yr was no exception. The Chinese language lunisolar calendar was launched to Japan within the sixth century, and it continued for use in some kind over a thousand years with some uniquely Japanese additions.
Nevertheless, in 1873, Japan deserted this calendar in favor of the Gregorian calendar in an effort to match the Western world. After an extended interval of isolation between 1603 and 1868 (referred to as the “Edo Interval”), Japan started buying and selling and constructing relations with nations from Europe and the Americas as soon as once more. They went to nice lengths to align their authorities, financial system, and different main establishments to extra intently resemble Western fashions.
As part of this modification, Lunar New Yr was put apart and shōgatsu started on January 1st from that time onward. Even so, the Chinese language zodiac stays, in addition to different reflections of Lunar New Yr traditions.
The place can you discover the remaining Lunar New Yr celebrations in Japan?
Simply because Japan not celebrates Lunar New Yr nationwide doesn’t imply you possibly can’t discover celebrations in Japan! Communities all through Japan maintain Lunar New Yr occasions in locations comparable to:
- Yokohama: The largest Chinatown in Japan has held Lunar New Yr celebrations since 1986. In years previous, there have been lion and dragon dances down the streets, acrobatics and martial arts showcases, and parades.
- Nagasaki: The oldest Chinatown in Japan, Nagasaki’s Lunar New Yr pageant goes past the Chinatown space to a variety of venues all through town in a celebration of Chinese language tradition. Often called the Nagasaki Lantern Pageant, it options over 15,000 lanterns.
- Kobe: Nankinmachi (Kobe’s Chinatown) has additionally featured a big number of Lunar New Yr occasions since 1987, together with lion and dragon dances, musical performances, and extra.
- Tokyo: The Chinese language group is flourishing in Ikebukuro, a district in central Tokyo. Whereas not an official Chinatown, you possibly can nonetheless discover Chinese language outlets and eating places celebrating Lunar New Yr, and it’s an important place to attempt some genuine Chinese language meals.
Lunar New Yr celebrations at all times finish with the Lantern Pageant on the fifteenth day of the brand new yr. Homes are embellished with lanterns, dances and parades are carried out, and fireworks are lit to start the brand new yr with a bang.
>> Choose up some Japanese dialog fundamentals for while you attend these celebrations!
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Lunar New Yr is probably not central to Japanese tradition, however its longstanding affect continues to be current. And if you end up in Tokyo or Nagasaki throughout the vacation, why not take part on the enjoyable?
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Written by Alexa Bevan
