Hatsumakku - A new tradition during the New Year's Holiday

 
Part of celebrating the New Year in Japan means paying attention to the "firsts" (Hatsu in Japanese) of the year.

Hatsumoude for example is the first visit to a shrine in the New Year. Normally the locals would go to a shrine on New Year's eve judt before the start of the new year and pray for a good year. Be warned, there will be a lot of people going to shrines tonight, but it is also common to go to visit a shrine during the oshogatsu(New Year) holiday 1st - 3rd as well to try to avoid the huge crowds of the 31st.

Other "Firsts" include:

Hatsuhinode
THe first sunrise viewing of the year.

Hatsu-uri
The first shopping sales of the year.

Hatsugama
The first tea ceremony of the year.

and,

Hatsuyume
The first dream of the year, said to fortell a person's luck in the coming year.

With all these "firsts" traditions, I have decided to create my own:

Hatsumakku
The first Mcdonnalds Big Mac meal of the year.  To make it a proper first I would need to lne up before 12am tonight and take the first bite of the burger at excatly New Year's day. But since this might be quite impossible I would settle for eating the burger from the 1st - 3rd to make it a valid First.

If KFC in Japan has the market cornered during Christmas, I can see McDonnals having the oshogatsu holiday market share. Maybe I should approach the higher ups of the company with this wonderful idea!! Think about it Hatsumakku coupons etc....I can be a millionaire with this.....or not!.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New year's Eve and all the best in the coming one!! 

Ramblings from a hungry Australian addicted to Makku

Alex Auscarria