January 30, 2007
Sacred Lots ("Omikuji" in Japanese)
| At the beginning of the New Year, most Japanese citizens go to shrines or temples and pray for the safety and peace for that year. When visiting a shrine or temple you can purchase an “Omikuji”, which is a sacred lot (numbered stick) that you exchange for a slip of paper that contains your fortune for the New Year. Recently, various types of unique "Omikuji" are being sold at shrines and temples. For example, natural stones or good-luck articles that portray anime characters come in different languages like English or Chinese, and can also be read in Braille for the visually impaired. Worshipping at a shrine or a temple and drawing "Omikuji" may still bring contentment. It is believed that if the contents currently written to the "Omikuji" are kept in mind and is reflected upon daily, big fortune may come to you. |
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