Susuharai

The other preparation to welcome New Year is susuharai (cleaning house tradition). They prepare traditional cold food named osechi-ryori and motchit-suki (rice cake). This activity has a purpose to free housewife from cooking assignment in three days of New Year. There is also toshi-koshi-soba, a plate of Japanese noodle to close year that has ended. Sometimes some people go to visit nearest temple in the night, while the others wait until the sun rises. In the house, all of people in family will clap their hand in front of kamidana (shelf that there is a little temple and offering). Some people get out to watch the first sunrise (hatsu-hinode), while the others just go to temple in the first 2 or 3 days in that year (hatsumode). Children receive money named otoshidama. For women, they wear kimono and play certain shuttlecock (hanetsuki). For men, they play card and dice.