A Happy New Year š„³ to all Reggaemuffins, foodflingers and Steemians! Hereās wishing you all the best - I hope this decade will be the best yet in your life. With that - letās Steem on.
New Yearās Day or āOshogatsuāis probably the most celebrated public holiday in Japan šÆšµ. Celebrations start with a light meal on New Yearās Eve. 
Source
Toshikoshi Soba š is a miso based soup which contains noodles. Since noodles are long , they symbolize a wish for long life.
source
Some people go for Ozouni depending on which part of Japan they are from. This soup also uses miso (might be different type of miso based on region)
but it includes Mochi (rice cakes) instead of noodles. They however, represent the same wish because mochi is stretchy when heated and so people are basically wishing for a stretch in their lifespan by eating this.
Hatsumodeā : New Year -First Shrine visit
In big cities where the trains usually stop by midnight , there is all night train service on December 31st to allow people a chance get to the shrine for the tolling of the bell.
People join long lines to get in front of the shrine , they clap their hands two times to summon the god to their prayer. They pray a brief silent prayer and toss coins in the area designated for this. !
people buying Mikuji
After saying their prayer, some people go to another area to purchase their fortune cookie (Omikuji) to see a forecast of the year ahead. There are preferred cards to draw and this is a big event for almost everyone. Whatsome people do after reading their fortune
Around the temple is usually be filled with food stalls selling everything from candy apples to fried chicken (karaage) and even games for the children. I was lucky to walk by a shrine in the early hours of January 1st, so I caught a few snaps and of course a strong whiff of the goodies for sale.
Meal on January 1 in Japan šÆšµ
The thing that most people look forward to on the first of January in Japan is āOsechiā. This is a mix of traditional foods With each having some symbolic meaning. Thank you for waiting : Here is my Food Fight Friday entryš
Each food item in the osechi has a special meaning. For fear of boring you with the details , I direct the attention of those who are interested to This for more information.
New Year Celebration in Jamaica šÆš²
Jamaica has more churches per square mile than any other country in the world. That means that most Jamaicans go to watch night services at church to sing , pray and listen to a sermon until midnight. As many seasonal Christians would say , they want the new year to āCatch me in church.ā Some Christians like the Seventh-day Adventist typically celebrate New Years Day from Sunset š
Dec 31.
People also get a nice stock of fire crackers and set these off at midnight š . Prior to all of this, people ensure that their houses are āspik and spanā (Clean ) for the New Year. Going to grand market for fireworks is a traditional event for many. For the rich and famous it might be a night spent at the annual New Yearās Eve Banquet at one of the fancy hotels in one of the big cities. The New Yearās meal typically looks like the Christmas meal - a table spread with the finest meats and fish like the one I shared last week.
When I was in Jamaica my friends and I usually spend time after church playing games and cooking food at a friendās house. The New Year games night was an exciting event for us. Uno, Taboo, Scrabble , Dominoes and just about any game you could think of provided rich entertainment for us and onlookers whose hearts couldnāt manage the competition. On the morning of New Yearās Day, we would take a trip to the beach to close out the day. These are still some of the fondest memories I have of home. How about you? Is there anything special that you of your family do on New Years Day?
People like making New Years resolutions, hereās one from Vybz Kartel from last decade.
This has been another Indeliblevibration from the ReggaeKitchen with yours Truly MissaJ.
Peace and Love EveryTime!