Osechi (お節) is a traditional
Japanese New Year meal. The tradition started in the
Edo period.
The dishes that make up Osechi each have a special meaning celebrating the New Year.
Some examples are:
- Kuro-mame (Black soybeans): "Mame" means "health". (Wish for good health in the New Year)
- Konbu (Seaweed): "Yorokobu" means "joy". (Wish for a joyful year)
- Tai (Red sea-bream): "Medetai" means "happy event". (Wish for happy events in the New Year)
- Kazunoko (Herring roe): "Ko" means "child". (Wish to be gifted with children in the New Year)
- Daidai (Japanese bitter orange): "Daidai" means "from generation to generation". (Wish to be gifted with children in the New Year)
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