What is Hatsumoude?
'''''Hatsumoude''''' is the first visit of the new year to a [[shrine]] or [[temple]]. Many [[Japanese people]] visit a [[shrine]] or [[temple]]. They [[pray]] to gods or [[Buddha]] for the health and happiness of their family in the coming year. A Hatsumoude is usually performed between January 1st and 7th, which is based on ancient beliefs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kininarutorenndo.com/archives/267.html |title=kininarutorenndo.com |access-date=2014-12-08 |archive-date=2015-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231145220/http://kininarutorenndo.com/archives/267.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ==Method of cleaning== You should [[Cleanliness|clean]] your body before you pray. ''Chozuya'' is cleaning your body. *1. Rinse left [[hand]]. *2. Rinse right hand. *3. Rinse [[mouth]]. (receive water to the hand) *4. Rinse left hand again. *5. Rinse [[spoon|ladle]]. (You can't draw water into a ladle twice, so you must finish all the cleaning with one ladle of water.) ==Method of praying== #Stand in front of the hall of [[worship]]. #Nod lightly and sound a [[bell]]. #Throw a [[money]] into an [[wikt:offering|offering]] box softly. #[[Bowing|Bow]] twice. #[[Clapping|Clap]] hands twice. #Put hands together and [[Prayer|pray]]. #Bow once. ==History== Originally, hatsumoude had been called ''toshigomori''.<ref>[http://www.solution11.com/kaiunn/qes007hatsumoude.html www.solution11.com]{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It was a custom that the head of [[family]] stay in the shrine from night on New Year Eve to morning on New Year's Day for prayer. In [[Meiji period]], toshigomori had divided into ''jyoyamoude'' that was done at night on New Year's Eve. Also ''ganjitsumoude'' that was done in morning on New Year's Day. So ''ganjitsumoude'' is the original form of today's hatsumoude. ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Shinto]]