Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 1
Read the story. 英文を読もう。
1In the first days of January, millions of people in Japan visit shrines and temples. This first visit of the year is called hatsumode. People throw coins into a box, bow, and make a wish for the new year. Many also buy a paper fortune called omikuji.
2Hatsumode feels like a very old tradition, but its modern form is not so old. Long ago, people visited their local shrine or a shrine in the lucky direction of the year. Then trains came. In the late 1800s, railway companies told people to ride their trains to famous shrines and temples at New Year. The word hatsumode spread with these ads.
3On January 2, many children do kakizome, the first writing of the year. They use a brush and black ink to write words like hope or dream on long paper. In mid-January, people burn these papers at a winter fire festival. If the fire goes up high, they say your writing will get better.
4And of course, children wait for otoshidama, New Year money from adults. The money goes in small, cute envelopes called pochi-bukuro. Pochi is an old word from western Japan for a small tip. So the name means something like just a little something for you. Adults also try not to give amounts with 4 or 9, because these numbers can sound like death and pain in Japanese.
Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 2
Choose the best answer. 正しいものを選ぼう。
What is the main idea of the passage?
What helped the word hatsumode spread?
When do many children do kakizome?
Why do adults avoid giving amounts with 4 or 9?
In the dialogue, what does Takumi suggest for tomorrow?
Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 3
Words & phrases. 単語のれんしゅう。
Yuna's New Year
On January 1, Yuna goes to a (1) with her family. They wait in a long (2) . Yuna throws a (3) into the box and makes a (4) . Then she buys an (5) . It says great luck! On January 2, she writes the word dream with a (6) . Her grandfather gives her a small (7) . There is New Year (8) inside!
Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 4
Read the clues and fill in the puzzle. ヒントを読んで、クロスワードを完成させよう。
Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 5
Find the hidden words. かくれた単語を探そう（→ ↓ ↘ ↗）。
Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 6
Collect the letters on the right path. What is the secret word? 正しい道の文字を集めると、ひみつの言葉になるよ。
Secret word:
Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 7
At hatsumode this year, I will wish for ______ because ______.
For my kakizome, I want to write the word ______ because ______.
Hatsumode & New Year Customs · Worksheet 8
Trace the words. Then color the picture! なぞって書こう。絵に色を塗ろう。
Draw your Hatsumode & New Year Customs! 初詣と書き初め・お年玉の絵を描こう。