#shougatu

[haruri179]

Shinnenn (New Year) (6/6)

What is Osechi ?

   "Osechi" is a traditional dish that can be eaten with zoni for the three-day New Year celebration called Sanganichi. Osechi is a variety of traditional and auspicious Japanese dishes in a special box called a "jubako", which looks like a bento box (lunch box).

   In the olden days, these traditional and auspicious dishes were handmade at home at the end of the year, but nowadays it is common to eat the purchased "osechi" to spend the year-end and New Year holidays slowly.

Toso, zoni and osechi are also New Year's kigo (season words).

[haruri179]

Shinnenn (New Year) (4/6)

What to do in the Shinnnenn (New Year)

   When the New Year arrives, we first drink sake called "Toso" to get rid of the evil spirits of the year and wish for longevity.

   This custom is said to have been introduced from China more than 1000 years ago, and it has been practiced by ordinary people since the Edo period. Originally, it is a special sake that is a mixture of several kinds of crude drugs, but nowadays, ordinary sake is often used.