Do you know about the Chinese zodiac - 'Eto'? We will introduce you to the New Year's items that are becoming popular.

• Table of Contents
• Does the Chinese zodiac - 'Eto' differ from country to country?
• What is the image of the snake in each country?
• How do people spend New Year's in Japan?
• If you're looking to buy New Year's postcards or envelopes, this is the place to go!

Does the Chinese zodiac - 'Eto' differ from country to country?

In Japan, Eto - the Chinese zodiac is deeply rooted in New Year's greetings, New Year's cards, traditional culture and events. Each country has its own interpretation and traditions of the Chinese zodiac, and it is used in China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Russia and other countries. The animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac vary from country to country, with Vietnam using a "cat" instead of a "rabbit" and Mongolia using a "leopard" instead of a "tiger". In fact, China, Taiwan and Korea use the animals of the Chinese zodiac in the same order as Japan!

What is the image of the snake in each country?

The snake, the Chinese zodiac sign for 2025, is treated as a variety of symbols depending on the region and culture, but is commonly regarded as a sacred animal. In China, where the zodiac originated, Fuxi and Nüwa, who are said to have created human beings, are depicted as gods with snake bodies.

In Japan, snakes are symbols of rebirth and wisdom, and because they shed their skin repeatedly, they symbolize "rebirth." They also appear in many myths and legends, and are sometimes worshipped as sacred beings.

For this reason, the snake has been chosen as the zodiac sign in many countries and has come to have a special meaning.

How do people spend New Year's in Japan?

While most of Asia outside of Japan celebrates the Lunar New Year, the Japanese New Year begins on January 1st and is celebrated during a period called "Matsunouchi" (January 1st to 7th). During this time it is common to spend time with family, visit shrines and temples, and enjoy a special dish called "osechi ryori."

New Year's greetings "New Year's cards"

In the West, it is common to send Christmas cards to greet both Christmas and the New Year at the same time, but in Japan, "New Year's cards" are sent from January 1st (New Year's Day) to January 7th. These greeting cards are sent to convey gratitude to those who have helped you during the previous year and to celebrate the New Year. Colorful New Year's postcards featuring auspicious items such as the zodiac animals, treasure ships, and the Seven Lucky Gods are a seasonal feature of the end-of-year season in Japan.

Nihon Hallmark(※), which designs, plans and develops greeting cards, letters, gift products and other products that "help connect people", develops many New Year's postcards every year. New Year's postcards come in a variety of designs, from mature to cute. In addition, they are finished beautifully down to the smallest detail, with gorgeous gold leaf processing and textured foil processing that gives them an exquisite feel, so that the recipient of the New Year's card can enjoy it visually.

* A wholly owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., the American greeting card brand with the world's largest market share.

List of Nihon Hallmark New Year postcards

*Please note that the official Nihon Hallmark online store does not ship to overseas destinations.

The custom of giving cash "Otoshidama"

In Japan, there is a custom of giving cash gifts, mainly to children of relatives, during the New Year holidays. This is called "otoshidama" and is one of the cultures that express gratitude to family and relatives. Similar cultures exist mainly in Asia, so some people may be familiar with this custom.

In Japan, otoshidama are mostly given in cash, so they are sent in small envelopes called "pochibukuro". Japanese pochibukuro are generally just the right size for coins and a few bills, but there are also larger ones that can hold bills without folding them. Nihon Hallmark's pochibukuro come in many cute designs depicting the zodiac animals. In addition to the standard envelope type, there are also unique pochibukuro, such as those that resemble gold medals and those made of felt.

List of Nihon Hallmark New Year's envelopes

*Please note that the official Nihon Hallmark online store does not ship to overseas destinations.

If you're looking to buy New Year's postcards or envelopes, this is the place to go!

New Year's postcards and New Year's envelopes can be purchased at Japanese stationery stores, bookstores that sell stationery, and general stores. There are many large stationery stores, especially in urban areas, where you can find a wide variety of items. Why not visit one of these stores to do some shopping?

*Please note that some products may be out of stock or unavailable.