15th day of the year.The main purpose is to mark the end of the New Year seasonand to send off the New Year gods.There are many prayers for a plentiful harvest in the coming year.It's also called the "Little New Year".This season is known as Matsunouchi.There's also a custom of eating rice gruel with adzuki beans early in the morning and praying for good health in the future.It's a day that families and housewives are allowed to rest following a busy season full of chores and events.It is the day that children have their coming of age ceremony, "genpuku".Also known as "Flower New Year" or "Women's New Year"...Even in the modern calendar, the 15th day is one of celebration in many regions.In the old lunar calendar, this is jougen, the first of three festivals (jougen, chuugen, kagen) that all take place on days of the full moon.The 15th is when the New Year Day's pine decorations are put away and the New Year season ends.
