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Düsseldorf's Japanese New Year

Wed 31 Dec 2008

New Year's Eve at Düsseldorf's Japanese cultural centre, the EKO House, can offer visitors an unusual experience.

The EKO House hosts a traditional Japanese New Year celebration, which focuses mainly on the ringing of bells to herald the arrival of the New Year at midnight on December 31st. It is customary for 108 bells to be rung at this time, saying goodbye to the last 12 months.

Visitors at the EKO House are even given the opportunity to take an active part in the celebrations by ringing one of these bells. This bell-ringing tradition stems from Buddhist belief that each peal dispels a human vice, leaving people fresh and renewed to face the coming 12 months.

Before the arrival of the New Year, however, visitors can gather together around the large bonfire which burns throughout the evening in front of the temple and enjoy sweet amazake sake and oshiruko, a hot bean paste soup.

During the day, visitors can spend some time discovering the EKO House and learning moreabout Japanese culture, making this a wonderful place to spend a short break over the New Year.

© Adfero Ltd

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