Letter from Boston First Night By MASAKO YAMADA	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
大みそかのお祭り 新しい年が明けました。雅子さんは毎年冬休みはニュージャージー州の実家に帰って家族と過ごしていましたが、今回は間近に迫ったテストのためボストンに残りました。一人で過ごすお正月は初めてですが、ボストンの大みそかのお祭りを新たに発見しました。

Although I've been living in the Boston area for almost five years, there are many things about the city that still surprise me. I'd like to think of myself as a near native Bostonian by now, but time and time again, I'm reminded that I haven't quite reached that point yet. And I am forced to admit that I'm still an eager guest in the city that has become my adopted home.

I felt this especially clearly on New Year's Eve. I'd heard the words "First Night" on the radio and in conversations for several days before New Year's Eve, but I didn't really know what people were talking about. It turns out that on New Year's Eve, there is a huge annual festival in downtown Boston called First Night.

This festival is about 20 years old now. I hear that it originally started as an alternative to the alcohol-centered revelry that is so common at the end of the year. It is a public event that caters to families. That means that many of the activities are designed so that children can take part in the fun.

Indeed, there are many events planned during the afternoon in order to include children who have early bedtimes. There are many ice sculptures on display in Boston Common, the central park downtown. Hynes Convention Center has tons of exhibits, shows and dance performances. Face-painters paint bright designs on the cheeks of little kids. There's even a parade downtown in which many children's groups participate ― handmade floats and sculptures in tow.

Of course, there are events planned for the segment of the population that can stay awake until the clock strikes midnight, too. Boston does not have the equivalent of the lighted ball that descends in Times Square in New York City, but it does have a laser light and fireworks display. All in all, it's a well-rounded, fun-filled event.

In reality, I experienced my first First Night on my sofa. I was home, studying, and I turned on the television to participate in the festivities. I hardly ever watch TV, but it seemed improper not to acknowledge the passing of the year in some way, so I put my books down for a while.

Indeed, the reason I'd never heard about First Night before is because I've always gone back to my hometown in New Jersey for the holidays. This is the first winter vacation that I've spent in Boston. I decided to stay here in order to study for my upcoming general exams. I felt this was necessary, but I didn't want to be by myself, so right after midnight, I talked with my youngest brother on the phone. What started out as a general "Happy New Year" conversation stretched out for almost three hours. I've always considered him my baby brother, but on this New Year's Day, I realized for the first time that he's grown up. This was the biggest thrill I got that day.

It's true that New Year's Day was not a particularly earth-shattering event for me this year, but it doesn't seem to be as big of a deal for Americans as it is for Japanese, anyway. The New York Times had a large article featuring the Japanese way of celebrating New Year's Day and it mentioned how much more ritualized an event it is for the Japanese (it also mentioned that Christmas is an exceedingly light holiday in Japan).

From watching "Kohaku" to eating rice cakes to clanging bells at temples, every action taken on New Year's Day seems to be a part of a larger tradition in Japan. New Year's Eve is a great day for having fun with friends and family around here, but it can be said that Thanksgiving or Christmas (or whatever winter holiday) is weightier in spirit. Indeed, I noticed that our local 24-hour supermarket was closed on both Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it was open, bright and early, on New Year's Day.

Shukan ST: Jan. 16, 1998

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