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Show Japanese mark new year with unique customs The most popular illustrations illustra-tions on Japanese Christmas cards are of the stork and the turtle. These represent the wish for a long and healthy life, apparently, as the stork is supposed to live 1,000 years and the turtle said to live for 10,000 years. Also popular are illustrations of the Seven Gods of Good For- tune and the Pine tree, which symbolizes good fortune. Most Japanese merchants send cards to their customers. It is also traditional for bells to welcome the Japanese New Year. The bells ring out 108 times on New Year's Eve, reminding re-minding the people of the 108 commandments of Buddha. One interestiing old Jananese custom is the spreading oi parched beans about the house, in the belief that such drives away evil spirits and invites good luck to enter the household. |