Omisoka
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Ōmisoka (Japanese: 大晦日), New Year's Eve, is an important day in Japanese tradition, occurring on December 31, the last day of the year. It is the day before the New Year's Day, the most important holiday of the year in Japan.
Usually, people are very busy on New Year's Eve because there are lots of preparations to do for the next day. Also, it is common to clean the whole house on this day, in order to welcome the new year freshened. This cleanup is called "Ōsouji" (大掃除, "Big cleanup"). Elementary schools also do their own Ōsouji before they go into the winter vacation.
At the very end of the day, usually around 11 PM, it is common to have "toshikoshi-soba" (年越しそば) or "toshikoshi-udon" (年越しうどん), "Crossover year noodle". While they are often eaten simply, some locals top them with tempuras. It is a tradition to eat noodles to see the old year out and the new year in.
Starting around 8 PM, the national television station NHK will begin airing "Kouhaku Utagassen" (紅白歌合戦, "Red and white singing contest"). Female singers are grouped in the "Akagumi" ("Red team") and male singers are grouped in the "Sirogumi" ("White team"). Both teams sing until nearly midnight, and then audiences and selected judges cast their votes on which side sung better.
A few minutes before midnight, every temple prepares Amazake (甘酒, sweet sake), and crowds gather around a metal gong which is struck 108 times. This number is believed to be number of sins and ill thoughts that can take place in a human mind and by striking a gong, these could be driven away.
There are many things to do on Ōmisoka, and it is a busy day for Japanese people. But it is an important day to end the year and to prepare to meet the new year.