Hatsumoude facts for kids

Hatsumoude is a special Japanese tradition. It's the very first visit of the new year to a shrine or temple. Many Japanese people take part in this custom. They go to pray to the gods or Buddha. They ask for good health and happiness for their family in the year ahead. Hatsumoude usually happens between January 1st and 7th. This timing comes from old traditions.

Getting Ready to Pray

Before you pray, it's important to clean your body. This cleaning ritual is called Chozuya. It helps you feel fresh and ready.

Here are the steps for Chozuya:

• 1. First, rinse your left hand.
• 2. Next, rinse your right hand.
• 3. Then, rinse your mouth. You do this by pouring water into your hand and then rinsing.
• 4. Rinse your left hand again.
• 5. Finally, rinse the ladle itself.

(Remember, you should try to do all these steps using water from the ladle only once.)

How to Pray

When you are ready to pray at a shrine, follow these steps:

1. Stand in front of the main hall where people worship.
2. Nod your head gently and ring the bell.
3. Softly toss some money into the offering box.
4. Bow twice, deeply.
5. Clap your hands together twice.
6. Put your hands together and pray silently.
7. Bow once more.

A Look Back in Time

Long ago, Hatsumoude was known as toshigomori. This was a custom where the head of the family would stay at the shrine. They would stay from New Year's Eve night until New Year's Day morning. They did this to pray for their family.

In the Meiji period, toshigomori split into two parts. One part was jyoyamoude, done on New Year's Eve night. The other was ganjitsumoude, done on New Year's Day morning. So, ganjitsumoude is the original form of the Hatsumoude we know today.

Images for kids

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  Hatsumōde at Narita-san Temple [ja] in Inuyama, Aichi

See also

In Spanish: Hatsumōde para niños