3 New Year traditions around the world
Think beaches, grapes and bells
Connect these 3 words and guess the New Year tradition in Japan
Bells - 108 - Monks.
Hint: The monks are followers of Buddhism. The bells ring.
Joya no kane - is the Japanese phrase for New Year. In late December, monks and attendants in Japanese Buddhist temples sweep the temple grounds. They also clean their main bell (called bonsho in Japanese) - removing all grime and dust. The bells in these monasteries are housed in giant structures. There are no walls around the main bell. It hangs from a roof that can be quite high. As Dec 31st rolls in, people start assembling quietly in the temple. Some of them write down their wishes and aspirations for the year ahead and leave them inside a bowl in the temple. As the evening wears on, the monastery grounds grow silent. Children and adults sit down together and contemplate about the year that went by. As the sunset deepens into twilight, the first toll from the bell can be heard.
Usually, it is a priest at the temple who strikes the bell. Some temples also allow common people to strike the bell. In such shrines, you can see whole families queuing to strike the bell. The bell is tolled 108 times. Each toll is slow and rhythmic. The first few tolls indicate leaving the old year behind. When people hear the next few tolls, they start meditating to leave their negative thoughts behind. The last few tolls usually helps everyone in the shrine focus on their positive expectations for the new year. The last toll (the 108th one) is heard immediately after midnight. It signifies entering a new age and carrying forward the dreams of little children and and an entire nation. Of course, the night is quite chilly too. So people love a cup of hot tea after the last toll is heard.
Here’s our next new year tradition. This one’s from Brazil.
Connect these 3 words.
Beach - White - Sea Goddess
Hint: The Goddess loves gifts. People love jumping on waves.
The Festa de Iemenja, as it is called in Brazil, is celebrated on January 1st. A whole lot of people gather on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. They are all dressed in white. They bring along a few gifts for their favourite Sea Goddess who is called Iemenja. If you happen to open a Brazilian story book for children, you will find this Goddess depicted as a mermaid. She loves children, protects them with great care and is also the main Water Spirit. She’s usually quite a cool-headed Goddess. But if someone does anger her, she can really spell disaster (think: floods and tsunamis).
On Jan 1, Brazilians walk into the ocean, leave their gifts for Iemenja in little boats and let them float into the oceans. Some also drop flowers for her. Then, they jump on seven waves (slowly and steadily - nobody wants to tumble in the ocean). Each jump signifies leaving behind their boring / annoying habits of the past year. Then they walk back into the beach (without turning their backs). Remember - kings and queens don’t like to see people’s backs, Iemenja is no different! And then, the fireworks begin in the beaches!
Here’s the last New Year tradition story for you. This one is from Latin America.
Connect these 3 words
Grapes - Minute - Table
Hint: There 12 grapes in the bunch. A stop clock is all set and ready.
In Latin American countries, each person picks up a bowl of grapes with exactly 12 in it. Just as the new year is about to strike, they bend under a table. Children crawl under it and sit comfortably holding the bowl in their hands. The clock strikes twelve. The stop clock for one minute begins. Each person has to finish eating their 12 grapes in 60 seconds!
If you finish eating your 12 grapes in 60 seconds, that means you’ll get 12 wishes granted for the new year. Most people like to think of one wish for each month of the year.
Want to try this one? Even if Jan 1st is past us, you can still get under a table and munch 12 grapes in one minute. Let me know how it goes!
I write one story every week in this newsletter ‘The Lighter Side’ - for children and parents. I try to find interesting, positive and inspiring stories from the real world around us. If you liked this, please do spread the good word around and share it with your friends & families. All you need to do is to click the ‘Share’ button!
If you want to read stories that I’ve written previously, click on the button ‘Read more stories’ below. Happy New Year! May all your dreams for 2024 come true!