Japanese New Year Tree
The years in each block are 12 years apart from the previous or following year in that block only.
Japanese new year tree. The first day of january became the official new year s day since five years after the meiji restoration. The japanese zodiac juunishi is divided into 12 blocks with each block containing a group of years. Unlike chinese korean or vietnamese new year japanese celebrate their new year on january 1.
They are derived from the shinto belief that the divine spirits reside in trees. With celebrations extending until january 3rd new year in japan is largely a quiet solemn family affair. New year 正月 shōgatsu is the most important holiday in japan.
Japanese new year decorations. Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate with each new year providing a fresh start. They are called kadomatsu 門松.
First at the gate of the house or at the door if they don t have a gate you see a pair of bamboo pine leaves ornaments. Each block is given a name of an animal based on the ancient chinese concept that all time shifts are based on these twelve units. They are placed after christmas until january 7 or january 15 during the edo period and are considered temporary housing for kami.
A kadomatsu 門松 gate pine is a traditional japanese decoration as yorishiro of the new year placed in pairs in front of homes to welcome ancestral spirits or kami of the harvest. Kadomatsu are traditional new year decorations made of pine and or bamboo sprigs placed in pairs representing male and female in front of homes to welcome the shinto gods. History says until 1873 during the meiji era 1868 1912 celebration of the japanese new year was based on the chinese lunar calendar.
Japanese new year celebrations are quite different from typical western ones. Kado menas gate and matsu means pine tree.