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New Year Traditions

Kakizome (Calligraphy)

Traditionally, on January 2nd, children write special New Year’s calligraphy. The words they choose symbolize their wishes or resolutions for the New Year. For example, two of the words written here are: shinsetsu (“kindness”) and tomodachi (“friend”).

Nenga-jo (New Year’s Cards)

People send nenga-jo, postcards with New Year Greetings, to family and friends. Usually, they write standard phrases and a few sentences about what they did in the past year, or their New Year resolutions. It’s also common to decorate the card with the Zodiac animal of the year. For example, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.

Usually, the postman brings a big delivery of all the postcards sent to each family from their friends and relatives from all over the country. It’s fun to read them all together!

Daruma Doll

Daruma is said to have brought Zen Buddhism to Japan. Legend tells that he sat in a cave meditating for so long that he lost the use of his arms and legs! This is why Daruma dolls are round, and if you try to knock them over, they go upright again. Daruma represents determination. Often, people get a Daruma doll when they want to achieve some goal. They write their goal on the back, color in one eye, and then do everything they can to achieve that goal. When they do, they color in the second eye to celebrate their success!