The First Shrine Visit of the Year

I visited the local shrine on January 1st to pray for the sound health, good luck, and happiness of the family. This first visit is called hatsumoude in Japanese.
Many Japanese people visit shrines or temples during the New Year’s days though about 65% of the people gave up visiting because of covid-19 this year. To avoid the crowd, I walked to the local shrine.
Japanese people say they are not religious nor believe in any religions, but they don’t hesitate to visit shrines or temples. I think it’s a kind of custom and a part of their daily life.
Although the origin of hatsumoude dates back to the 11th century, it’s around the 19th century that many commoners started to visit the famous shrines or temples that weren’t in their neighborhood. It was triggered by the railway company advertising to take a train to visit the famous and distant shrines or temples.

I usually draw fortune slip and buy a good luck charm in the shrine. The shrine I visited keeps the horse that is regarded as a sacred horse. Therefore I purchased the charm with horse embroidery.
I hope we overcome covid-19 and ordinary life come back to all the people on the earth.

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