December in Japan is the month for wrapping things up!🪅

Every year around this time, I start listening to Christmas songs and putting up my Christmas tree. 🎄

Do you have a favorite Christmas song?

For me, December is a cold month when I look back on the year and reset myself so I can welcome the new year with a clear mind.

This is my first December in Singapore, and it feels strange to spend the end of the year in short sleeves.😂

While I’m excited for Christmas, I also feel strongly that I want to finish everything I can before the year ends.

Maybe this comes from the Japanese mindset of wanting to “reset” before the new year begins.

Before welcoming the New Year, we do certain things to reset.

Here is an introduction to them.

Ōsōji — New Year’s Cleaning🧹

In Japan, people do a thorough cleaning of their homes at the end of the year.

Every room, the air conditioners, even inside the refrigerator—everything gets cleaned.

Without this, it feels as if we can’t properly welcome the new year.

This tradition comes from susuharai, a custom from the Edo period, where people cleaned their homes to purify them before welcoming the gods of the new year. 　

Today, I think people mostly do it to refresh their minds rather than for religious reasons.

I also throw away things I no longer need every year, it makes me feel good!

New Year’s Cards💌

New Year’s cards—nengajō—are a traditional way to deliver greetings on January 1st in Japan.

Recently, fewer people send them because you can just greet friends on social media.

When I was in elementary school, I hand-wrote more than 50 New Year’s cards every year.

I spent days writing messages because deciding what to write to each person was important.

I remember the excitement of checking the mailbox on January 1st to see who had sent me a card.

But now that we have SNS, I don’t send any at all anymore.😭

End-of-Year Parties🎉

This is actually my favourite tradition.

Bōnenkai are parties held to “forget the bad things from the year and welcome the new one with a fresh mind.”

I used to go to at least five every December—with coworkers, friends from junior high, university friends, and my family.

Although the idea is to “forget the year,” the truth is I just enjoyed drinking and having fun. 🍺

And of course, I also drink at New Year celebrations, which we call shinnenkai.

Do Japanese People Like to “Reset” at the End of the Year?

Cleaning the house to start fresh, organizing relationships through New Year’s cards, and letting go of worries at bōnenkai.

Looking at these traditions, it seems Japanese people like to reset their hearts and daily lives before welcoming the new year in a clean, refreshed state.

When I finish cleaning my room at the end of the year, I also feel, “Okay, I’m ready to start a new year.”!

In a busy life, I think the end of the year becomes an important moment to reset.🕐

I hope all of you will be able to welcome a wonderful new year as well.🌱

Manae