1.
New Year's Eve; the last night of the year
The night of December 31st. Most commonly encountered in the compound 除夜の鐘 (the New Year's Eve temple bells).
除夜の鐘が鳴る。
The New Year's Eve bells ring.
除夜の鐘は108回撞かれる。
The New Year's Eve bells are struck 108 times.
毎年除夜の鐘を聞きながら新年を迎えるのが我が家の習慣だ。
It's our family's custom to welcome the new year while listening to the New Year's Eve bells.
CULTURE:
除夜の鐘 is one of the most iconic sounds of the Japanese New Year. Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times — once for each of the 108 worldly desires (煩悩) in Buddhist teaching. The ringing begins on the night of December 31st and often continues past midnight into the new year. It is broadcast on TV as part of NHK's 紅白歌合戦 end-of-year programming.
ETYMOLOGY:
除 means "to remove" and 夜 means "night." The name refers to the night that removes the old year.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 除夜の鐘 (New Year's Eve bells — the most common use by far)
- 除夜の鐘を撞く (to ring the New Year's Eve bells)
- 除夜の鐘を聞く (to listen to the New Year's Eve bells)