Preparing for "Giving": The culture of words and prayers that reside in New Year's money and envelopes
Preparing for "Giving": The culture of words and prayers embodied in New Year's gifts and envelopes
---
As the end of the year approaches, colorful pochi envelopes begin to appear on the shelves of stationery and general stores around town. The zodiac animal designs, the gold leaf lettering, the texture of the washi paper - when you pick one up, it suddenly brings back memories of your childhood. On New Year's Day, you gather at your relatives' house and the small envelope is gently handed to you on the lap of an adult. Even now, it is the warmth of that moment and the words inside that remain in your mind, more than the contents themselves.
Otoshidama is not simply an exchange of money. Originally written as "Otoshidama," it was a sacred act in which family members shared the "soul" bestowed by the Toshigami-sama, a deity welcomed into the home during the New Year. Toshigami-sama is a deity who brings bountiful harvests and safety to the home, and was believed to descend from the mountains to the village during the New Year. Kagami mochi is offered to this deity, and by sharing and eating the mochi with the family after the New Year, the family receives the power of the deity - this is the origin of Otoshidama.
As time passed, people began to give gifts or money instead of mochi, and in the Edo period, the custom of giving money as "otoshidama" to servants of merchants and children became widespread. After the Meiji period, with the spread of the monetary economy, the modern-day format of "giving money in a small envelope" became established. However, at its core, the feeling of "sharing the soul" still lives on.
Even the small envelope known as a pochi bag is imbued with a sense of culture. "Pochi" means "a little" or "just a little" in the Kansai dialect. Originally, it was a word used when giving small tokens of gratitude to geisha or servants, and it conveys a humble sentiment of "it's just a token of my gratitude." While many pochi bags today feature characters or are colorful, handmade pochi bags made with washi paper and origami embodies the feelings of the giver. For example, simply adding a handwritten message turns the envelope into a "vessel for words."
The act of preparing a New Year's gift is not simply about deciding on the amount. It is also a time to prepare the giver's heart. Prepare new bills, choose a small envelope, and decide on the amount while imagining the recipient's face. Through this series of actions, wishes such as "I hope you will be healthy this year" and "I hope your future will be bright" are put into the gift.
The manner of gift-giving is also an important part of the culture. Hand it over carefully with both hands and add a few words such as "Thank you for your continued support this year" or "Study hard." With just these words, otoshidama changes from simple money to a "gift of words and prayers." Children remember the moment of the exchange more than the amount. This is why adults want to be conscious of "giving" rather than "giving."
At WABISUKE, we see the act of "gift-giving" as a way of passing on and resonating with culture. A clasp purse is a container that holds memories of the day. A zine is a way of giving words. Otoshidama, too, is a gift that encapsulates culture and shares the soul, and lives on in our lives.
For example, you could give a small envelope hidden in a clasp purse. Or you could give a zine with "New Year's gift words" attached. Or you could create a small envelope that matches the celebratory colors of the color calendar, such as "golden jasmine" or "red plum." With just such a simple ingenuity, New Year's gifts can be transformed into an experience of "giving culture."
At this time of year, organizing your wallet also means organizing your mind. The giver's prayers reside in the hands that select the envelope. As preparations for the new year, otoshidama are not simply "given" but "given." Each and every gesture will surely become a "sign of culture" that will remain in someone's heart.