New Year


 

Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year will be better for you. By the way, the way of celebrating New Year's Day is different between Japan and other countries. In the U.S., the most favorite is the count down in New York Times Square, I think. There are many people every year, but this year, there may have been fewer people than usual. Because of the coronavirus. However, in the U.S., Thanksgiving Day and Christmas is more mainly event than New Year's Day. I  think this shows the difference in culture and religion.

Speaking of New Year's in Japan, there is Osechi! Did you eat it? Osechi is a very traditional dish and it has many meanings. Today, I will introduce some of the meanings of Osechi.

"Osechi" is a Japanese word that means "turning point" in English. Originally, it was eaten for celebration in some seasonal turning points. The main reason for eating Osechi is that you do have not to cook. Osechi has many variations of foods and the amount is very large. It is a perfect dish for New Year's Day because we can relax with family. There is another traditional reason. That is this, people don't feel rushed when welcoming gods.

Next, I will introduce typical dishes in Osechi and their meanings. Black soybeans are sweety. Its meaning is "to work diligently and energy". Kazunoko is made from herring roe by being salted or dried. The many eggs mean "plenty of children" and "prosperity of offspring". Datemaki is a soft and sweet food made from eggs. Dtemaki seems like a makimono which is used for study in old Japan. So, the meaning is "to be a success in the study". Kurikinton is a dish made with chestnuts. It is so sweet like deserts. It has a wish that "for increased money" because of its golden color. Shrimp is also eaten for Osechi. The long whiskers and bent waist is the symbol of longevity. The more bent waist, the longer you will live. 

How many meanings did you know? Of course, there are more and more meanings I haven't introduced. There are many sites and books which explain the meanings of Osechi. If you are curious, please check them out!

Thank you for reading all of this. I could realize the great point of Japanese foods again on New Year's Day. See you soon!

コメント

コメントを投稿

このブログの人気の投稿

Beauty and Physical Attractiveness

     Today I listened to a podcast about the importance of beauty. They talked about the elements of beauty person. They said that personality is also important but the appearance of a person is deeply connected with the first impression. For males,  a curvaceous woman who has a symmetrical cute face looks beautiful. For example,  Emma Watson is so a beautiful woman. She is a British-French actress who starred in the “Harry Potter” series and other movies. On the other hand, for females, a man who has a well-balanced small face and a big frame looks beautiful. 
続きを読む

Science of the Future and Us

 Hello everyone! Today I would like to write about the relationship between science and us in the future. The scientific revolution that took place about 500 years ago was a revolution of ignorance. We realized that we didn't know much about our environment, materials, or even our own bodies. This led to an increase in per capita production and a truly rapid growth of the modern economy. However, I would like you to stop and think about this. Most history books focus on the ideas of great thinkers, the bravery of warriors, the deeds of saints, and the creativity of artists. They are also concerned with the formation and dismantling of social structures, the fall of empires, and the discovery of technology. But no one mentions how the growth or decline of such societies affected the happiness or suffering of each and every person! With the development of science and technology, we have become capable of many things. Long-distance travel has become easier. We are no longer frightened
続きを読む