Japanese New Year greetings and customs

The idea

Before the year ends, よいお年を wishes someone a good coming year. After it begins, say あけましておめでとうございます; 今年もよろしくお願いします expresses hope for a continuing good relationship. Osechi is festive food, 初詣 is the first shrine or temple visit of the year, and 年賀状 is a New Year card.

Examples

• 年としの終おわりに、よいお年としをと言いいます。At the end of the year, people say “Have a good New Year.”
• 新年しんねんに、あけましておめでとうございますと言いいます。In the new year, people say “Happy New Year.”
• 今年ことしもよろしくお願ねがいします。I look forward to your continued support this year.
• 正月しょうがつに家族かぞくとおせち料理りょうりを食たべます。At New Year, I eat osechi dishes with my family.
• 新年しんねんに神社じんじゃへ初詣はつもうでに行いきます。In the new year, I visit a shrine for the first visit of the year.
• 友達ともだちに年賀状ねんがじょうを送おくります。I send a New Year card to a friend.

Watch out

Do not use あけましておめでとうございます before the year has begun. Customs vary between families and individuals.

Try it yourself

1. 年としの終おわり：よいお＿を。

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   年

   年 completes よいお年を, a farewell wish used before the new year.

2. 新年しんねん：あけましておめでとう＿。

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   ございます

   ございます completes the polite New Year greeting used after the year begins.

3. 新年しんねんの最初さいしょの神社じんじゃへの訪問ほうもん：初詣はつもうで／年賀状ねんがじょう

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   初詣

   初詣 is the first shrine or temple visit of the year; 年賀状 is a New Year card.

Use it today

Imagine meeting a colleague before and after New Year. Choose a greeting for each meeting.