Do Japanese send New Year Greeting Cards ?
As a foreigner, I found it very difficult to locate Greeting Cards shops like Archie’s or Hallmark shops in Japan. But Yes, they do send New Year Cards more religiously than we did , back in India. Later I discovered, that Greeting cards are available in Book shops and Post Cards. And there are many Printing services which take your photo and print it on the post card.
A New year card is sent to their families, if they live apart and to friends without fail. For businesses, it is customary to send new year cards and gifts to their business partners, expressing gratitude for business this year and wishing to continue the same business relationship to this year.
Japanese have an animal name for each year. 2007, was the “Wild Boar”. This year it is “Rat”. Rat Year is believed to good luck as Rats have the habit of accumulating (food)wealth. Many are excited about this year.
This part of the naming the year with animals is also prevalent in China. Chinese year names and Japanese year names are same. Because, it custom to Japan from China.
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