Neshōgatsu (寝正月 - Staying at Home during the New Year's Holiday)

Neshōgatsu

Happy New Year.

This year I have done 'neshōgatsu' (寝正月).

'Ne' (寝) means "sleep" and 'shōgatsu' (正月) means "New Year's holiday," the literal meaning of 'neshōgatsu' is "sleeping during the New Year's holiday."

The actual meaning of 'neshōgatsu' is to stay at home during the New Year's holiday.

In Japan, there is a traditional custom that people greet Toshigami-sama (年神様 - literally "god of the incoming year") from December 31st to January 1st, then sleep and stay at home during January 1st.

Therefore, first selling and New Year's events are often held from January 2nd.

寝正月

あけましておめでとうございます。

今年は「寝正月」をしました。

「寝」は "sleep"、「正月」は "New Year's holiday" を意味するので、「寝正月」の文字どおりの意味は "sleeping during the New Year's holiday" となります。

実際の意味は、正月の休みを外出せず、家でゆっくり過ごすことです。

日本では伝統的に、12月31日から1月1日にかけて眠らずに年神様を迎え、1月1日はゆっくり寝て過ごす風習がありました。

そのため、初売りや正月行事は2日から行われることが多いです。