Blog# 4:Special Winter Vacation

Happy new year!!
What did you do on the first day of a new year?

Last year, I would watch the first rising sun of a new year, but I got up late! So I ccould not and I decide to watch it next year!

After I got up, I said“Akemashiteomedetogozaimasu”, which means a happy new year, to every member of my family.
My father gave me and my young sister otoshidama. Otoshidama is Japanese costom.
It is the presents for children or younger people in new year season. Then we ate osechi, which is season cuisine.
I was received nengajo, Japanese new year card, from my friends. Japanese people send them to their relative, friends, and so on, and to share the pleasure for a new year. I like reading them, becaurse my friends made very interesting cards. I was happy to be given them. Of couese I also wrote nengajo to some friends.

 
Today, I went to hatsumode with my friend, which is visiting to shrine or temple in the new year season. I went to Kitanotenmangu where is the shrine enshrnes the god of academic achievement . I visited there for tow reasons. First reason, I pray my great grade. Second reason, I buy a omamori for my younger friend.

There were a lot of people visiting the shrine to pray. I prayed about my test grade and wrote my hope on ema.

And I consulted an oracle. Oracle is a trial of  fortune. First, I choose and pull only one of the stick in a box. A number is written on the stick. Second, I am given the same number paper. The pappaper show me my fortune of this year. I got daikichi. It is best resresult and means that I can have a good time in this year!

This is my special winter vacation. And Japanese culture in new year season.
Now a new year just started. I will make effort in every aspect. Thank you for reading.