1. Duty -
Japan has various customs where you give something to someone because it is your social duty. Nengajo is on of these. Basically, you should send nengajo to everyone you know. Many people are more selective of who they send nengajo too. However, if you receive a card from someone, you are expected to return the favor (known as a giri card).
2. Design -Many nengajo feature the animal from the upcoming year's zodiac. It is believed that the years represented by the animals affect the characters of people.
Chinese Zodiac (animals and their characteristics):
- Rat - an animal with spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality, adaptable, clever and adorable, personable and materialistic, thoughtful, sensible, judiciously and curious, timid, lack concentration and stability, timid, obstinate and selfish
- Ox - persistent, simple, honest, and straightforward, industrious, patient, and cautious, do things steadily, tender-hearted, obstinate and poor at communication
- Tiger - brave, cruel, forceful and terrifying, tolerant, staunch, valiant, and respected, intelligent, faithful and virtuous, short-tempered, over confident and traitorous
- Rabbit - tender and lovely, gentle, sensitive, compassionate, amiable, modest and merciful, and have strong memory, soft-spoken and welcoming, homebody and hospitable, amorous and not determined, soft in appearance and stubborn inside
- Dragon - token of authority, dignity, honor, success, luck, and capacity, lively, intellectual, energetic and excitable, magnanimous, romantic and sensitive about their reputation, ambitious, arrogant and impatient, over- confident, eccentric, tactless, fiery, intolerant and unrealistic
- Snake - malevolence, cattiness and mystery, good tempered, skilled at communicating, sympathetic, determined, intense and passionate, perceptive, jealous and suspicious, courteous but headstrong
- Horse - energetic, bright, warm-hearted, intelligent and able, clever, kind to others, cheerful, perceptive, talented, earthy but stubborn, impatient and hot blooded, independent
- Sheep - gentle and calm, delicate and precious, tender, polite, filial, clever, and kind-hearted, wise and compassionate, worriers who are shy, pessimistic, moody, indecisive, over-sensitive, week-willed and puzzled about life
- Monkey - clever, lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile, self-assured, sociable and innovative, with competent practical ability, jealous, suspicious, cunning, selfish and arrogant, tend to look down upon others, impatient and mouthy
- Rooster - fidelity and punctuality, deep thinkers considered to be honest, bright, communicative, ambitious, capable and warm-hearted, eccentric and have difficulty relating with others, critical, positive but selfish, caustic and too outspoken, narrow-minded and vain, refuse suggestions but would like to lecture others, arrogant
- Dog - understanding and obedient, faithful, courageous, dexterous, smart and warm-hearted, straightforward, stubborn, cold emotionally, irritable and anxious
- Pig - laziness and clumsiness, honest and frank, chivalrous and gallant, tolerant and optimistic, kind and light hearted, loyal, hot-tempered and impulsive
3. Phrases -
Phrases and Greetings are commonly used on nengajo and can be paired up with design elements as well. The phrase or greeting you use should be adjusted to reflect the recipient and the level of respect you wish to convey.
Conventional nengajō greetings include:- kotoshi mo yoroshiku o-negai-shimasu (今年もよろしくお願いします) (I hope for your favour again in the coming year)
- (shinnen) akemashite o-medetō-gozaimasu ((新年)あけましておめでとうございます) (Happiness to you on the dawn [of a New Year])
- kinga shinnen (謹賀新年) (Happy New Year)
- gashō (賀正) (to celebrate January)
- shoshun/hatsuharu (初春) (literally "early spring", in the traditional lunar calendar a year begins in early spring)
- geishun (迎春) (to welcome spring)
4. Lottery -
Store bought cards come with a lottery number on each and every card allowing the recipient to participate in a national lottery. Prizes vary and winning numbers are announced in mid-January.
5. Restrictions -
If someone has died in your family that year, you send "Mourning Postcards" earlier in the year to let everyone know that they should not send nengajo out of respect for the deceased.
Sending Nengajo
Addressing and personal messages are usually written by hand or painted with an ink brush to offer the individual a chance to show off their Japanese calligraphy (書道 shodō).
Cards purchased at a stationary store or the post office have pre-paid postage within Japan. When sending nengajo abroad, fill them out like this. The post office guarantees delivery of nengajo on 1 January if post-marked by 25 December.
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