Continuing from yesterday, today marks the first day of spring in the 24 solar terms, signifying the beginning of the year. On the other hand, the year according to the lunar calendar (solar and lunar calendar) begins on February 10th this year, and this day marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. In Japan, the tradition of celebrating the ‘Old New Year’ persists in some regions, particularly in Okinawa and the southwestern islands. When we were children, we often heard about the Lunar New Year still. However, in contemporary Japan, New Year’s celebrations have firmly established themselves during the first three days of January in the Gregorian calendar.
The resurgence of interest in the Lunar New Year is attributed to China’s Spring Festival. With the rapid economic development of China, many Chinese people visit Japan during the Spring Festival, and the phenomenon of ‘explosive buying’ became a topic of conversation. Looking around neighboring countries, Japan is unique in celebrating the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar. In China, Taiwan, and Singapore, it’s the ‘Spring Festival,’ in Korea, it’s ‘Seollal,’ in Vietnam, it’s ‘Tet,’ and in Malaysia, it’s the ‘Chinese New Year’—all of which are based on the old lunar calendar.
While Japan celebrates the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar, traditional events following the old lunar calendar and the 24 solar terms are abundant throughout the year, starting with today’s first day of spring. It’s a curious country.

昨日の続きになりますが、二十四節気では立春の初日の今日が１年の始まりです。一方旧暦（太陽太陰暦）の１年の始まりは、今年は２月10日で、この日を旧暦の元旦とし、旧正月が始まります。日本では、沖縄の一部地域や南西諸島辺りで「旧正月」を祝う風習が今も根強く残っていたり、私達の子供の頃には旧正月の事もまだよく耳にしたものです。しかし今では日本の正月は新暦の１月の三が日が完全に定着しています。
旧正月を思い起こさせたのは中国の春節です。急速に経済発展した中国から春節に沢山の中国人が日本を訪れ、「爆買い」が話題になってからです。日本周辺の国々を見渡しても、新暦で正月を祝うのは日本くらいで、中国や台湾、そしてシンガポールの「春節」、韓国の「ソルラル」、ベトナムの「テト」、マレーシアの「チャイニーズ・ニュー・イヤー」など、すべて旧正月です。
日本では正月は新暦ですが、今日の立春をはじめ、旧暦や二十四節気の伝統行事が一年中目白押しです。不思議な国です。