FESTIVVALS AND HOLIDAYS

Hatsumairi

Visits to Shinto shrines are important in the lives of the Japanese people. they not only make periodical visits to their Ujigami or district shrines, but they also make special trips to pay respects to distant shrines. But of all such visits to shrines, the most important is Hatsumairi or First Visit which is made on New Year's Day.

The New Year's Day symbolizes the birth of the nation and thus on the first day of the year, the people are particularly inclined to worship.

The Japanese people love to make special visits to distant, famous shrines. Trains leaving various parts of the country late on New Year's Eve are usually crowded with persons who intend to make visits early in the morning of New Year's Day.

Local Ujigami shrines have large numbers of visitors as soon as the 108 bells are sounded to usher in the New Year.

At many local shrines, special charms to protect the happiness of worshippers are issued in the New Year season. The aim of Hatsumairi is to pray for a bright and happy year. The beginning of the year is quite significant to the Japanese people who believe that one year begins on New Year's Day and ends on the following New Year's Eve, and that each year is a separate unit.

This belief respecting the beginning of the year, and the association with the birth of the Nation, are factors that made Hatsumairi popular and significant in the country.