Osechi is a Japanese traditional New Years food packed in special bento boxes called Jubako. Japanese prepare this food before the New Year and they normally eat it for the first 3 days of New Year. My mother finished preparing it and sent me pictures as below. Well done to her 🙂
Upper left box: Kamaboko (fish cake), Bodara (shimmered fish), Dashimaki (Egg rolls), Kazunoko (salted herring roe)
Upper right box: Konbu-maki (simmered seaweed rolls), Taino-ko (Seabream), Koimo (Sub taro), Renkon (Lotus route in vinegar), Gobou (burdock root)
Bottom box: Tataki Gobou (burdock root), Datemaki (sweet omlet), Kuromame (simmered black soy beans), Takenoko (Bamboo), Kohaku Namasu (Carrota and Daikon salad), Gomame (sweet small fish), Kintoki Ninjin (Reddish Kyoto carrot)
Each dish and ingredient has meanings such as good health, good harvest, happiness, prosperity, long life, and so on. For example, Kazunoko (a lump of fish roe) symbolizes many children and prosperous family. Various beans imply a wish for good health. Also, red/pink and white colored food, such as pink and white kamaboko (fish cake) slices and red carrot and white radish represent celebration colors.
Nowadays, many people buy ready made ones prepared by professionals like the picture below.
New Year holiday is a special holiday for Japanese. Towards the end of the year, Japanese start spring cleaning, they clean everywhere where they do not normally clean and prepare Osechi to welcome the new year. From 30th December, we take a break from a hectic year of work and relax and take time to enjoy this valuable moment with family. Most shops are closed for the first 3 days of New Year too.
I found White radish at the super market so I will prepare Daikon and Carrot salad for sure 🙂 I definitely miss my mother’s Osechi!
