Osechi Japanese New Year Meal - Come in Giappone festeggiano la fine del 2010

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Japanese New Year Osechi Meal

 A fine anno si festeggia varie volte: il bonenkai, la cena con  i colleghi di lavoro, e successiva sosta al karaoke,  e le feste di fine anno - Gantan, ed il primo dell'anno nuovo - Oshogatsu, in famiglia,  I Giapponesi hanno alcuni piatti con sapori tipici, tra cui   la buccia di yuzu, un limone che si usa per le feste di inizio anno nuovo;  il succo ha un sapore che sta tra il limone ed il pompelmo (in questo post, biancorossogiappone propone alcuni usi della buccia di yuzu)

New Year in Japan is called Shogatsu and is one of the most important holidays of the year. It is a time when Japanese people can reflect on the past year and look forward to the coming year with a fresh start. It is also an opportunity to follow traditional Japanese customs and eat an authentic Japanese dish called Osechi.

Osechi is made from a variety of different ingredients, all of them important for representing something special. For example, Kamaboko, a boiled fish paste is typically red or white and circular, which represents the rising sun. Other items which are important are various types of soy beans, as the Japanese word for them is “mame”, which can also be used to mean health, and to work hard.

The first step is to use a suitable bento box, which is specially designed for osechi. The one in the image above is called ojyu bako and is a three tiered bento, perfectly suited for the different types of food to served at a traditional New Year meal in Japan.

Soba are also traditionally eaten over the New Year period in Japan as they represent longevity for the New Year. They can be prepared in a huge variety of different ways, but commonly served in a dashi based soup. Where as osechi is usually eaten from the 1st January, toshikoshi soba are enjoyed on the evening of the 31st December.

Although Christmas is now celebrated in Japan by many people, New Year is the traditional time to give gifts. The most popular gift, especially for children, is the timeless present of… money! This is given in a special decorated envelope called otoshidama bukuro which is filled with crisp bank notes.