It is O-misoka today.

Hello.

This is May in Japan.

It is O-misoka today.
O-misoka means the last day of the year in Japanese.

Today, we have to prepare to invite God to a house.

Some people display New Year's pine and bamboo decorations in the entrance hall.
These decorations are called "Kadomatsu" in Japanese.
Kadomatsu is very expensive, so most people don't display it.

Most people display Shinto straw festoons and round rice cakes, because these are relatively cheap.
This is a Shinto straw festoon.
We display it in the entrance hall or a car.

This is a round rice cake.
We display it in the house.
We believe that God dwells in these decorations.

After preparations, people celebrate the New Year with their family and relatives.
It is a big event for Japanese people.
It looks like Christmas day.

And, we eat soba noodles at the end of a year.
It is a popular custom in Japan.
To eat soba means that cut off an accident of one year of this year.

Everything has a important meaning.
This is our custom on New Year's Eve.

By the way, I wish you a Happy New Year !!