They celebrate it more then we do at Christmas or Easter. Like WAY more. Why is that.
Is it something to do with sprits like the Chinese?
2006-12-19 15:47:00 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
spirits? You're thinking of Obon perhaps or Setsubun. But New Year's celebration comes from China. Japan now celebrates it on the Western calendar.
New Year's is when many people go to their hometowns and spend time with their families. Married couples will often go to one of their parents' hometown. People will visit temples and shrines on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Many Buddhist Temples will strike their bells 108 times New Year's Eve to represent the 108 desires that man should avoid - makes the 7 deadly sins look like a piece of cake in comparison. In Tokyo you'll find large crowds at Meiji Shrine.
New Year's is a fresh start and a new or first everything. You'll find some diehards who will climb Mt. Fuji to see the first sunrise.
2006-12-20 05:35:11 · answer #1 · answered by samurai_dave 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the Japanese have Buddhist traditions that come with the New Year. It is a family holiday. They go to a Temple and pray. Some people watch the first sun rise. Christmas is a Christian holiday. The Japanese celebrate this holiday with their friends. New Years is a family day.
2006-12-19 23:14:02 · answer #2 · answered by Adam 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Japan has all the commercialism of Christmas, without the meaning behind it (much like anything in Japan, eg gangsters, holidays, goths etc.). Their focus is the new years because it has been around for them alot longer, and has a religious as well as holiday aspect for them.
The Japanese don't really have holidays during the year, even Golden Week, the 'big holiday' is only a couple of days, and some people still have to work. Shougatsu/Shinnen/ New years is when the whole country stops and stores close, everyone looks forward to it. That's why its such a big deal, its all their Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, school holidays, and every day off all rolled into a couple of days. That's why its such a big thing.
2006-12-19 16:06:18 · answer #3 · answered by twikfat 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
they clebrate every thing even Halloween, or the Brazilian carnival, what ever look fun and can make a lot of money, they will do it.
2006-12-20 17:44:25 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋