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Critical Thinking Paper

Critical Thinking Paper Virginia Newsome ANT 101 Cultural Anthropology Michael Wiseman February 13, 2009 1 New Year is mainly a family celebration in Japan. People go back to their home towns or parents' home. As most shops and restaurants are exceptionally closed for 3 days, people prepare the traditional "o-set chi ryouri”,eaten during this period. Adults Day is a celebration of the coming of age for boys and girls turning 20 that year. The coming of age symbolizes mainly the abstention of the right to buy cigarettes and alcohol legally. Ceremonies held at temples and shrines and girls wear special kimono for the occasion. On the evening of the first day before the traditional beginning of spring, a brief rite called "mame-maki" literally "bean-throwing") is conducted at temples and shrines to drive away evil spirits and disease. It is especially popular with children. Valentine’s Day is contrarily to Western customs; it is normally only women who offer presents on Valentine's Day in Japan. It is usually chocolate and is not restricted to their boyfriend, husband, but to any men among friends or colleagues. The joke goes that as many Japanese men do not like sweets (including chocolate), women offer them to their husbands but eat them afterwards. The other reason is that men have to reciprocate twice what they have received one month later; Hina Matsuri is a festival that is dedicated to (young) girls. These dolls represent an ancient Imperial couple that is displayed in houses of unmarried girls to bring good fortune on them. The superstition has it that if dolls are not put back to their boxes before midnight, girls in the house will never marry. White Day is a Japanese invention. As only women give presents on Valentine's Day, men should return the gesture one month later. It is also called "knickers’ giving day", as some men buy panties to their woman. Again, that could be seen as a self-interested gesture, as men will enjoy their lady's wearing their...