Omisoka is the Japanese word for the final day of the year, or New Year’s Eve. Its name derives from the last day of the month, Misoka, and the letter “O,” which indicates enormous. Japan has a wide variety of Omisoka traditions, including Toshikoshi-soba, Osouji, Toshinoyu, and others.
Who started Omisoka?
Although Omisoka’s founder is unknown, research indicates that Sung China introduced it to Japan around the Kamakura era. From the stroke of midnight till the morning of New Year’s Day, the bells are rung 108 times. According to one myth, 108 represents the sum of all human aspirations.
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What do the Japanese do on the Omisoka?
Important tasks for the final day and year were traditionally finished in order to begin the new year with a clean slate. Cleaning the house, paying off debts, performing acts of purification (such as chasing away evil spirits and ill luck), and taking a bath are a few of them.
Facts about Omosika
- It is stated that those who don’t finish their Toshikoshi-soba will have bad luck with money the following year. Because buckwheat flour is used by artisans who beat gold into gold leaf. for collecting a bit of gold leaf back then.
- On Omisoka, some regions’ residents prefer to eat udon noodles to soba noodles. Udon is said to sound like the Japanese word “un,” which implies luck or fortune.
- In Omisoka, bells ring out the old year known as Joya-no-kane almost everywhere. It is struck 138 times because there are 138 Bonnou, which are all human desires and passions that cause mental disturbance.
