In Japan,
there are some specific holidays.
Today, I will
write about New Year’s Day (Shogatsu).
New Year’s
Day is the most important holiday in Japan. It’s similar to Christmas Day in
Christian countries.
And, during
New Year’s Holiday, we eat many kinds of special foods.
1. Toshikoshi-soba
On New Year’s Eve, we eat this. This is
buckwheat noodles. The long and skinny shape of the buckwheat noodle represents
longevity,
2. Zoni
This is soup with nochi, vegetables, and meat
or fish. It is served for New Year’s Day breakfast and can be served through
all the New Year celebration days. The flavor and ingredients of the soup vary
according to religion and family tradition. For example, Tokyo-style is clear
soup and Kyoto-style is miso soup.
In my house, my mother is from Yokohama, so we
always eat clear soup zoni.
3. Osechi-ryori
It literally means holiday food. Osechi-ryori
includes many item represents a specific wish for the new year, such as for a
healthy life and longevity. They are usually neatly packed in a jubako.
Typical osechi items are…
l Kuromame (sweet black beans)
"Blister" originally, the word which
means strong and health.
And in Japanese, beans are called “mame”. “Mame”
mean serious and hearth. Then, both working seriously and living healthy are
hoped.
l Namasu (Japanese radish and carrots pickled in
vinegary dressing)
It is a
combination of red representing the joy and the white representing the
clean-sacred. Since radish take root in the earth, it is means to prosper
firmly the foundation of the house.
l Datemaki (sweet omlets)
There is such
a theory that hopes the cultural prosperity as scroll.
l Kamaboko (savory fish cake)
We eat both
red and white color kamaboko. Kamaboko symbolizes the "sunrise". Red
represents happy and joy, white represents the sacred.
l Kuri-kinton (chestnuts with sweet potato
paste)
It is
compared to treasure that golden. And hope the rich year.
l Konbu-maki (cooked vegetables and mushrooms)
It is for family development that is also used
to mirror ornament of New Year good luck. In Japanese, kelp is “Konbu” and rejoice
is “Yorokobu”. Then, there is a play on words, with Konbu-maki meaning “kelp”
and “rejoice”.
In this site, you can learn more about
Osechi-ryori.
4. Nanakusa-gayu
It is rice porridge eaten on January seventh
for yearlong health. It contains seven kinds of seasonal vegetables. It is also
a healing meal after the New Year’s feast,
These special
foods have their own meanings. I think it is good to understand each meaning
and enjoy New Year’s Holiday more.
