Known as "Sougwachi"
in Shuri and Naha, the New Year season brings the custom for
priestesses or a family holding authority in the district to
perform the year's very first rite.
It is also the time of the year for heads of the households
or first sons to pay visits with New Year's greetings to head
families or to houses where the elderly reside.
Male members of the household presume these roles because female
family members were to avoid making these visits in the past.
During the visits to head families, people greet their ancestors
by burning incense at the family altars.
For houses where seniors or the elderly reside, one accepts
a cup of awamori to celebrate
and pray for good luck. In some areas of Naha, there exists
another custom of gratefully receiving slices of dried squid
and salt with chopsticks from seniors.
(Rituals of Okinawa)
Copyright(C)
2003 Okinawa Prefectural Government. All rights reserved.
