How to Read “盆と正月が一緒に来たよう”
Bon to shōgatsu ga issho ni kita yō
Meaning of “盆と正月が一緒に来たよう”
This proverb describes a situation where happy or busy events overlap simultaneously, creating a great commotion.
While it’s impossible in reality for Obon and New Year’s – the two most important events of the year – to occur at the same time, if they did, the entire household would be in tremendous chaos. This expression is used to describe situations that are unimaginably hectic and lively. It’s particularly used when good things happen in rapid succession, creating a situation where, while joyful, one becomes extremely busy dealing with everything. For example, when years of effort pay off with a promotion, and around the same time, a marriage is decided or a child is born. While these are joyous occasions, the preparations and procedures create a truly chaotic state. This expression fits perfectly in such situations. The characteristic point of this proverb is that it’s not simply about being busy, but that the busyness contains joy and festivity.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to have emerged from the everyday sensibilities of common people during the Edo period. Obon and New Year’s were the two most important annual events for Japanese people. Obon was a precious time for welcoming ancestors, and New Year’s was the most festive time for celebrating the new year. Both were times when families gathered, special feasts that couldn’t normally be afforded were prepared, and people were kept busy with special preparations.
For common people in the Edo period, these events were a great burden both economically and physically. For Obon, there were preparations for welcoming and sending-off fires, offerings to prepare; for New Year’s, there were kadomatsu and kagami-mochi to prepare, year-end soba and ozoni soup to make – tasks piled up like mountains. If these two major events were to occur simultaneously, it would indeed create tremendous chaos.
From this background, the expression “Tray and New Year came together like” was born, becoming established as a proverb expressing extremely busy situations or the commotion that ensues when happy events overlap. Because it was a metaphorical expression rooted in common people’s real experiences – very familiar and easy to understand – it has continued to be beloved for so long.
Interesting Facts
Obon and New Year’s are actually set at the most distant times, six months apart. This is not coincidental, but is thought to be because in Japan’s agriculture-centered society, they were placed at the most suitable times respectively – before the summer harvest and during the winter farming off-season.
In Edo period merchant houses, Obon and New Year’s were actually settlement periods. Merchants would close their books and check their business results during these two periods, making them truly the busiest “earning seasons” of the year for merchants.
Usage Examples
- My job change and moving ended up in the same month, and it’s exactly like Tray and New Year came together like in terms of busyness
- My son’s wedding and daughter’s childbirth overlapped, and it’s as lively as Tray and New Year came together like
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. Unlike in the past, many modern people have fewer experiences of being overwhelmed by Obon or New Year’s preparations, making it harder to understand the “difficulty” of these events as a real experience.
However, modern times have their own “Tray and New Year came together like” situations. For example, when multiple happy reports come in simultaneously on social media, or when multiple projects proceed simultaneously at work. Particularly in digital society, information and tasks flooding in all at once has become routine, so the situations this proverb expresses could be said to have become more familiar.
Also, in modern times where the concept of “work-life balance” is emphasized, this proverb has taken on somewhat different meanings. It’s also used as an expression that teaches the importance of not being too overwhelmed by overlapping good things, but responding by setting priorities.
On the other hand, among younger generations, there are increasing numbers who feel “What’s so difficult about Obon and New Year’s?” and there’s a possibility that this proverb itself may fall out of use as an outdated expression. As our lifestyles change with the times, it’s natural that our understanding of proverbs changes accordingly.
When AI Hears This
This proverb is a remarkable example of how Edo-period Japan intuitively grasped what modern psychology now calls “temporal density theory.”
Temporal density theory describes how the brain perceives time differently when intense emotional experiences are concentrated into short periods. This saying brilliantly captures a situation where two peak emotional moments—typically spread across the year as the Obon reunion with ancestors and New Year celebrations—suddenly converge simultaneously.
What’s fascinating is how accurately this proverb articulates a phenomenon that neuroscience has now validated. When strong emotions occur, the brain releases massive amounts of dopamine and noradrenaline, accelerating memory formation. As a result, even brief moments become encoded as incredibly dense experiences, creating the sensation that time has stretched and expanded.
What modern people describe as “moments when time stood still,” Edo-era folks understood through the familiar lens of seasonal festivals. By imagining the surreal overlap of the year’s two most sacred periods, they intuitively grasped how emotions can compress our perception of time.
This expression serves as evidence that people recognized at a grassroots level—300 years before academic theories emerged—that human time perception operates quite differently from physical time.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us modern people is that life’s richness sometimes appears in the form of “busyness.” When good things overlap and become overwhelming, those might actually be life’s most fulfilling moments.
In modern society, efficiency and rationality tend to be emphasized, but sometimes it’s important to accept “Tray and New Year came together like” confusion as spice in life. Precisely because these are situations that can’t be perfectly controlled, human warmth and unexpected joy are born there.
Also, this proverb teaches us the importance of “not shouldering everything alone.” Both Obon and New Year’s were originally events to be overcome through cooperation with family and community members. Even in modern times, especially during busy periods, by seeking help from those around us and cooperating with each other, we can transform difficult situations into enjoyable memories.
There may be times in your life when “Tray and New Year come together.” During such times, don’t panic – savor each moment carefully while overcoming challenges together with those around you.
Comments