New Year's Traditions

Another New Years eve has come and gone. We can't watch the ball drop on TV out here in Japan (It happens the next morning for us anyway), but we have begun taking part in some of the Japanese traditions for the New Year. One tradition that we have made part of our family is watching the first sunrise of the new year.  The last two years the boys have really looked forward to our morning outings to see the sunrise. 

Christy had a hard time with deciding to do this tradition this year. It was the one year anniversary of her fathers death. In fact, it was while we were out for the sunrise last year that she found out her father had passed away.  The night before we decided to do it but choose another location.  Her dad, like a typical grandparent was always one for letting the boys do what they wanted to do, especially it it involved adventure. She could hear him say, "Aww Chris, don't be all emotional, just go." So this year it was even more of an adventure because we didn't have a specific destination. The next morning we all bundled up, got on our bikes and headed east, down a road we had never ridden before. We quickly found an overpass from which to watch the sunrise this year.  Then we rode our bikes to a restaurant that featured a breakfast buffet to warm up. We decided to  the long way home exploring as we went. 

The boys have even planned out what they want to do next year. As we rode home we passed a temple nestled in the woods on the side of the hill we live on. Some workers there invited us to come next New Years Eve so we could see the fireworks they shoot off. These are the fireworks Christy and Terence have seen from their bedroom window the last two years. So the boys have planned to go to bed at 5:00pm on New Years Eve, wake up at 11:00, go to the temple watch the fireworks and the bell ringing (temples ring their big bell 108 times at midnight on New Years Eve), go home for a nap or ride our bikes around until the sunrise, then go to the local public bath before we head home. Not sure if all of that is going to happen but it is fun to hear them plan.

Another New Years tradition is the eating of osechiryori.  New years is a 3 day celebration, when people spend time relaxing with family.  Since they do not want to cook, they prepare (or nowadays also buy) special lacquered boxes of prepared foods that last several days without refrigeration. This year on New Years Eve we had some Japanese and American friends over for an interesting fusion meal. We made turkey, dressing, and mashed potatoes and our Japanese friends brought osechiryori and special rice with beans.

On New Years day we enjoyed spending some time with some old friends.  The kids had fun playing together and making cookies.  

In Japan, our life is anything but traditional, however, we like the chance to choose our own, new traditions.