It's getting running low this year too. For those who are related to Chuo-ku, various memories will surely be mixed.
When Christmas is over, we're preparing for the New Year. It's a busy year for cleaning up, preparing New Year's dishes, and busy. And how would you like to spend New Year's Eve? People who are busy preparing for the New Year until the end, those who work during the year-end and New Year holidays, and those who spend a relaxing time ... each day looks back on the year.
Speaking of New Year's Eve, there are many people who eat "New Year's Eve soba". Originally, "New Year's Eve" means "Setsubun", which means that on this day we prayed for sound health and ate auspicious soba. In the lunar calendar, early spring was the New Year, so the previous day's Setsubun was probably the most important thing. Later, the last day of December became "New Year", and it became established throughout the country with the introduction of the solar calendar. Nowadays, it's a feature of New Year's Eve along with the "bell of night removal".
Actually, there is another important traditional event on New Year's Eve. This is to visit great exorcism at the shrine. It is an important ceremony that removes everyday filth and entrusts wishes for the New Year together with "Nago Shinohara" on the eve of June. It has been held since the days of Nara and Heian. On this day, we will go through the Chinowa, which will cause trouble, and cleanse ourselves. And they dedicate a doll (persongata) by entrusting them to remove the filth on their behalf.
In the first place, the meaning of visiting a shrine is to express appreciation for everyday blessing and to remove mistakes and filth of the body. It is said that it is not a sudden wish.
In this sense, great exorcism may be more meaningful than new year worshipping.
There are also a number of shrines in Chuo-ku that perform this ceremony. In my case, I've been involved in this event at [Nazuki Shrine], [Tetsugunsu Inari Shrine] and [Koami Shrine]. All of them were wrapped in the dignity and strictness cultivated in history and tradition, and I felt somewhat tight.
Why don't you visit a nearby shrine at the end of the year? Unlike the crowded grounds of new year worshipping, you can visit slowly.
Well, thank you very much for your help this year. I hope you have a good year.
