So interesting you’ll want to tell someone! December Trivia & Fun Facts Special

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I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Did you know that many traditional year-end and New Year events hide fascinating origins and meanings? From the significance behind the number of times the New Year’s Eve temple bell is struck, to the purpose of the big year-end house cleaning, and even the meaning of Christmas colors—December is full of intriguing trivia.

By learning the background of the year-end customs we usually perform without much thought, you can discover deeper meaning and charm in them.

In this article, we share fun, general-interest trivia and tidbits about December that will enrich your holiday season.

Feel free to use them as conversation starters with family and friends!

Fun facts you'll want to share! December trivia & tidbits (11–20)

It is said that the “shi” in Shiwasu refers to Buddhist monks.

Shiwase is another name for December, and even from the kanji you can sense the busy preparations for the coming new year.

As for what the kanji 師 in Shiwase represents, there are various theories, but the prevailing view is that it refers to monks or Buddhist priests.

It’s said that the term arose from the image of December as a season when monks visit households to chant sutras and conduct Buddhist rites, becoming so busy with the increase in ceremonies that they hurry from place to place.

The fact that monks—who usually devote themselves to training within the temple—are running around outside also conveys just how hectic this time of year is.

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For the winter solstice’s seven herbs, foods with two “n” sounds are chosen.

The winter solstice, which arrives in December and marks the shortest day of the year, can also be seen as a time when we truly feel the severity of winter.

On this day, there is a traditional set of seven auspicious foods to eat, each containing two instances of the “n” sound in Japanese.

These seven are nankin (pumpkin), ninjin (carrot), renkon (lotus root), ginnan (ginkgo nuts), kinkan (kumquat), kanten (agar), and undon (udon).

They are said to help prevent colds and support career advancement.

The “n” sound is associated with the word for “luck” (un), which is believed to bring good fortune.

So try incorporating them into your daily meals to attract good luck.

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Bathing on New Year’s Eve is called “Toshi-no-yu” (the year’s bath).

At the end of the year, it feels good to soak in a warm bath and welcome the New Year feeling refreshed, doesn’t it? “Toshi no yu” refers to bathing on New Year’s Eve, a custom that has been passed down in Japan since long ago.

The idea is to bathe on New Year’s Eve to wash away the year’s impurities and greet the new year with a clear, refreshed mind.

Traditions surrounding toshi no yu vary by region: some people take a yuzu bath to ward off evil spirits and pray for good health, while in other areas people make offerings at the household Shinto altar before bathing.

On New Year’s Eve, it’s nice to take your time in the bath, refresh yourself, and welcome the year ahead.

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The New Year’s housecleaning is a Shinto rite, and its purpose is the ‘soot sweeping.’

At the end of the year, many people do a thorough house cleaning so they can welcome the New Year with their homes in good condition.

Although it’s often thought of as an expanded version of ordinary housework, this major cleanup is actually a Shinto ritual, imbued with the meaning of preparing to welcome the gods.

It is said to have begun in the Heian period, originating from the soot-sweeping ceremony held at the imperial court to receive Toshigami, the deity of the New Year.

If we shift our focus from simply wanting to greet the New Year comfortably to the original purpose of avoiding discourtesy to the gods, our approach to this year-end cleaning may change as well.

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