A Calendar of Words Seasonal words for December

  Another term for December is shiwasu. It is

written

“monks run” in kanji characters, because December is a

busy season when even monks who are usually calm and

composed must make haste to get things done. During

this month, many people hold year-end parties, or

bonenkai, and paint the town red as they get together

and look back on the year that is about to end.

O-misoka is a seasonal word for December, referring

specifically to December 31st, the last day of the year.

Japanese companies are normally closed during the

year-end, and most people spend those days preparing to

usher in the coming year. It is typical for the entire

family to gather, eat toshikoshi soba (year-end soba

noodles), and quietly listen to joya no kane (midnight

tolling of the temple bells) together, on O-misoka.

Toshikoshi soba are eaten on O-misoka, in hopes of

good fortune, continued health, and longevity in the

coming year. The joya no kane begins late at night on

O-misoka and continues into the first few seconds of the

new year, and symbolizes the casting away of man’s 108

earthly desires of the old year prior to welcoming in the

new.

As the end of shiwasu draws near, people greet each

other with the phrase, “yoi otoshi wo” (have a good new

year). As it is a widely-used phrase that celebrates the

coming year, you might like to try using the greeting “yoiotoshi wo” in parting this year.