Nagoya Festivals

New Year is the main holiday of the year in Japan, and the country shuts down for several days as people take time off to spend time with their families and relax. As with Christmas celebrations in the West, numerous customs and traditions are observed at New Year. Here are explanations of a few of them: Bōnenkai and Shinnenkai Parties Bōnenkai means “forget the year gathering.” These are parties that people hold with friends or colleagues to drink, be merry, and forget the year. The bo-nen-kai season usually starts around the beginning of December, and intoxicated people, typically middle-aged men, are visible on streets and trains on all nights of the week rather than just Fridays and Saturdays. After the New Year turns, the celebration does not end as friends and co-workers come together once again for the shinnenkai, celebrating the beginning of the new year. At this time of year, it can be hard to get a table in many izakaya-style restaurants due to the large numbers of bo-nen-kai and shin-nen-kai held. Nengajo (New Years’ Cards) Nen-ga-jo are greetings cards sent to friends and acquaintances at New Year. They are pre-paid postcards in a variety of printed designs. It is common to see…