Editing Japanese festivals (section)

==={{Nihongo|New Year|正月|Shōgatsu}}===
{{main|Japanese New Year}}
Date: January 1–3 (related celebrations take place throughout January)

Other Names: Oshōgatsu (O is an honorific prefix)

Information: New Year observances are the most elaborate of Japan's annual events. Before the New Year, homes are cleaned, debts are paid off, and [[osechi]] (food in lacquered trays for the New Year) is prepared or bought. Osechi foods are traditional foods which are chosen for their lucky colors, shapes, or lucky-sounding names in hopes of obtaining good luck in various areas of life during the new year. Homes are decorated and the holidays are celebrated by family gatherings, visits to temples or shrines, and formal calls on relatives and friends. The first day of the year ([[ganjitsu]]) is usually spent with members of the family.

People try to stay awake and eat [[toshikoshi soba]], noodles to be eaten at midnight. People also visit Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Traditionally{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} three are visited. This is called [[sansha-mairi]]. In the [[Tokyo Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]] at dawn on the 1st, the [[Japanese Emperor|Emperor]] performs the [[Ritual|rite]] of [[shihōhai]] (worship of the four-quarters), in which he offers prayers for the well-being of the nation. On January 2 the public is allowed to enter the inner palace grounds; the only other day this is possible is the [[Emperor's birthday]] (February 23). On the 2nd and 3rd days acquaintances visit one another to extend greetings ([[nenshi (Japan)|nenshi]]) and sip [[otoso]] (a spiced [[rice wine]]). Some games played at New Year's are [[karuta]] (a card game), [[hanetsuki]] (similar to badminton), tako age ([[kiteflying]]), and komamawashi ([[spinning top]]s). These games are played to bring more luck for the year. Exchanging [[New Year's greeting card]]s (similar to [[Christmas Card]]s) is another important Japanese custom. Also special allowances are given to children, which are called [[otoshidama]]. They also decorate their entrances with [[kagami mochi]] (two mochi rice balls placed one on top of the other, with a tangerine on top), and [[kadomatsu]] (pine tree decorations).

A later New Year's celebration, [[Koshōgatsu]], literally means "Small New Year" and starts with the first full moon of the year (around January 15). The main events of Koshōgatsu are rites and practices praying for a bountiful harvest.