It's this time of year again...actually it's been this time of year for some time now but I've chosen to ignore it, thus the scrambling starts for me today.
I'm talking about our New Years postcards, which we call Nen-ga-jo (年賀状) in Japanese. It's customary for everyone to send out these postcards to family, friends, and co-workers.
If you look at the postbox above you'll see that they are separated from the regular mail, Nengajo to the left and regular mail to the right. They separated it from the regular mail because these Nengajo are only to be delivered after the first of January.
This system starts on December 10th each year and the post office asks us to send out the Nengajo by the 25th, in order for it to be delivered on the 1st. But lazy people like me know that if you send it out by the 30th, it'll probably get there in time. ha.
There are simple Nengajo that you can just buy and write a quick message. Others make their own, using family pictures, which are my favorite kind. I like to hand make my own every year, so I haul out my stamps and embossing powders. I also use a brush-like pen to write out everyone's addresses.
Like regular letters, the Nengajo tradition is kind of starting to fade out. Many of my friends just text me on my cellphone on New Years. But I like this tradition, and although it really is time consuming, I love receiving them on New Years from friends and family and plan on sending them out every year.
Better get to work...!
That sounds like a great tradition. I still send out Christmas cards every year, although I don't always get them in return any more. Everything's so organized, a separate place for the Nengajo!
ReplyDeleteLove hearing about these customs. (Initially, I thought the mailbox was a gas pump.)
ReplyDeleteI think I prefer New Year's cards to Christmas cards...Christmas cards are too hard to get out in time!!! I once got a Christmas card at Easter from an old friend of mine...explanation...too busy to get them out!!!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting tradition and a very elegant and practical mailbox!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I hate e-cards and text messages even more.
ReplyDeleteStamps and embossing powders! You are going to be making works of art! I know that everyone will treasure those! - I love how y'all have a special side of the mailbox just for those cards.
ReplyDeleteReal cards are so much better! So are real letters. When was the last time you received a hand-written letter?
ReplyDeletehow impressive to see and learn.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and hang in there. Will you be using your Muji colored markers? I think dragon designs are so cool (2012—Year of the Dragon).
ReplyDeleteI used to get stencils for New Year Cards at Sekaido on Shinjuku Street. There is a branch in Nishi Shinjuku here. But you probably know that place well, already.
It looks like that Tully’s in your photo used to be an Office Depot.
I hope that you will show us your card design when you have the time. Or better yet send me one. Ha ha.
Yes...I'd love to receive a handwritten letter...but in all honesty...I can't remember the last time I wrote a handwritten letter...I'm just saying'...
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's nice to receive cards in the mail... but I must admit that I have not sent out any Christmas/New Year cards this year! How very slack!
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