The meaning and history of Osechi cuisine that even foreigners can understand | Introducing my family’s Osechi

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Have you all had an experience like this?

• We eat Osechi during New Year’s, but I want to know its origin!
• New Year’s food is so expensive that I hesitate to buy it!
• I want to make New Year’s dishes!

But don’t worry.

By reading this article, you will learn the following solutions:

• People from other countries can also gain a deeper understanding of Osechi cuisine!
• Learn about the origins of the names of Osechi cuisine!
• Learn the meaning of eating Osechi on New Year’s Day!
• Learn about the wishes and meanings behind Osechi cuisine!
• Learn about the characteristics of Osechi cuisine and how to pack it!
• Introducing the New Year’s dishes made at the administrator’s house in preparation for the New Year 2005!

This article is packed with useful information you won’t find anywhere else.

Please take your time and look carefully.

Introduction

The main reason why New Year’s in Japan fell on January 1st was due to the introduction of the new calendar (Gregorian calendar).

In the past, Japan used the lunar calendar (lunisolar calendar) that originated in China.

This calendar was based on the phases of the moon, with New Year’s Day being determined based on the new moon after the winter solstice.

Therefore, the lunar New Year falls between late January and mid-February on the modern calendar.

The lunar New Year was based on natural cycles and functioned as a traditional everyday event rooted in agriculture and seasonality.

However, the Japanese government officially adopted the new calendar (Gregorian calendar) on December 3, 1872 (Meiji 5).

At this time, the old calendar that had been used up until then was abolished all at once, and it was decided that January 1, 1873 would become January 1 on the new calendar.

The main reasons for the introduction of the new calendar are as follows:

• Internationalization
  Using the same calendar as Western countries will make trade and diplomacy easier.
• Improving economic efficiency
  In the old calendar, the length of the year fluctuated due to the addition of leap months, but in the new calendar, the length of a year was fixed (365 days or 366 days in leap years), making it easier to manage.
• Symbol of modernization
  新暦の採用は西洋化・近代化政策の一環であり、新しい日本を象徴するものであった。

Even after the abolition of the lunar calendar, there are still regions and cultures that celebrate the lunar New Year (Little New Year or Lunar New Year).
For example:

• In Okinawa and some other regions, special events are held during the Lunar New Year.
• In China, Korea and other countries, the Lunar New Year is still celebrated as a major event (Spring Festival).

In the new calendar, the length of a year was based on the solar cycle, giving a stable sense of the seasons.

However, there can be deviations from the rhythm of events and agriculture based on the lunar calendar.

Cultures such as “Setsubun” and “Cherry Blossom Viewing” are based on the old calendar, so there is a discrepancy between the seasonal feeling and the new calendar.

The main reason why Japan’s New Year fell on January 1st was to internationalize and streamline things by adopting the new calendar.

However, the customs and culture of the lunar calendar era are still cherished in each region.

Lunar calendar events and customs

New Year (first month of the lunar calendar)

The New Year according to the lunar calendar was centered around events to pray to the gods of agriculture and for the health of family members.

Welcoming the New Year God: Homes are decorated with Kadomatsu and Shimenawa ropes to prepare for welcoming the New Year God. These are the origins of modern New Year decorations.

Zoni and red bean porridge: People prayed for good health by eating zoni, which uses rice cakes as auspicious foods, and red bean porridge.

Setsubun (end of January to February in the lunar calendar)

Setsubun marks the change of seasons, and a ceremony to ward off evil spirits is held on the day before the beginning of spring.

Bean Throwing: Chanting “Demons out, good fortune in” (outside the demons, good fortune in) people throw beans to invite good fortune into the home.

Holly Sardine: To ward off evil spirits, the head of a grilled sardine is stuck onto a holly branch and displayed at the entrance to the house.

Hina Matsuri (March 3rd of the lunar calendar)

The Doll’s Festival was originally a festival held in the third month of the lunar calendar.

Nagashibina: Dolls made of paper or straw are floated down rivers or into the sea to ward off evil spirits.

Diamond-shaped rice cakes and white sake: Colorful diamond-shaped rice cakes and white sake were offered in prayer for health and longevity.

Cherry blossom viewing (March to April in the lunar calendar)

The cherry blossom season occurs from the end of March to April in the lunar calendar, and ceremonies are held to pray for safe agricultural work.

Banquets under the cherry blossoms: Hanami, the practice of enjoying food and drink while admiring the cherry blossoms, became popular and was associated with praying for a good harvest.

Tanabata (July 7th of the lunar calendar)

Tanabata, held on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, is a star festival that was originally introduced from China.

Write your wish: In honor of Orihime and Hikoboshi, we wrote our wishes on strips of paper and hung them on bamboo poles.

Waterside rituals: There were also customs of purifying hands by the river and weaving cloth to offer to the gods.

Obon (around July 15th of the lunar calendar)

Obon was an important event for welcoming and offering prayers to the spirits of ancestors.

Welcome and send-off fires: Fires are lit in front of the house to welcome and send off the spirits of ancestors.

Bon Odori: The local community gathered together to dance and remember their ancestors.

Double Ninth Festival (September 9th on the lunar calendar)

The Choyo Festival is a day to enjoy chrysanthemum flowers and pray for longevity.

Chrysanthemum sake: Drink sake with chrysanthemum flowers floating in it to ward off evil spirits.

Chrysanthemum Dolls: Dolls and decorations made from chrysanthemum flowers are the centerpiece of the festival.

The night of the 10th day of the 10th month of the lunar calendar

Toukan-ya is an event to give thanks for the agricultural harvest.

Sending off the rice field god: A ceremony was held to send the rice field god back down to the mountain after the harvest.

Characteristics of Lunar Calendar Events

The lunisolar calendar has the characteristic that it is closely related to the changing of the seasons and the agricultural cycle, with events held in accordance with the phases of the moon and seasonal turning points (the beginning of spring, the beginning of summer, etc.).

It is also deeply connected to agriculture and harvesting, and there are many festivals to give thanks to the gods during rice planting and harvesting seasons, as well as rituals to pray for good harvests.

Furthermore, as a culture that cherishes the blessings of nature, the spirit of enjoying the seasons through food and plants (cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, pine trees, etc.) and being grateful to nature is deeply rooted.

These can be said to be uniquely Japanese culture that has been cultivated since ancient times as people have lived in harmony with nature.

Regional uniqueness

The content and timing of events vary from region to region, creating a sense of diversity.

Regional customs and traditions vary: The same event often has a different name, content, and time of year depending on the region.

Connection with local nature and culture: Unique rituals and festivals have been created depending on the terrain (mountains, sea, rural areas) and industry.

The importance of the local community: Local people work together to run events and preserve traditions across generations.

In this way, each region reflects its own unique characteristics and forms a diverse culture.

A more detailed explanation of Japanese New Year

Japanese New Year is the first holiday of the year, starting on January 1st, and is a special time to spend with family and loved ones. During this period, there are cultural events and traditions such as:

• New Year’s pine decorations
  Kadomatsu and shimekazari decorations placed at the entrance of a house are symbols for welcoming the gods.
  They are made from pine, bamboo, and paper streamers, and are meant to pray for good health and prosperity in the new year.
• first visit of the year to a shrine
  During the New Year period, many people visit shrines and temples.
  This is called hatsumode, and people pray for good health and good fortune.
  One of the things people enjoy is drawing an omikuji (fortune slip) to find out what their fortunes will be for the year.
• New Year’s gift
  Children especially look forward to receiving otoshidama, small bags of money given by relatives and family members, which are a New Year tradition.
• New Year’s dishes and osechi
  During New Year’s, families gather together to eat osechi ryori (traditional New Year’s dishes), each of which has a special meaning and symbolizes prayers for health and prosperity.
  Osechi also includes a rice cake soup called zoni, which is enjoyed in different styles in different regions.
• New Year’s Cards
  During the New Year holidays, people send New Year’s cards to friends and relatives to express their gratitude for the year and to wish them a happy new year.
  In recent years, with the advent of digitalization, more and more people are sending greetings via email and social media.
• New Year’s Fun
  Some of the activities unique to New Year’s include kite flying, shuttlecock, and Fukuwarai, which are traditional Japanese culture.

Basic information about Osechi cuisine

Osechi cuisine is a traditional dish eaten mainly during the New Year in Japan, and is an essential part of New Year’s celebrations.

This dish originates from the five seasonal festivals known as “Gosekku,” which have been held since ancient times.

The “Five Seasonal Festivals” are events celebrating particularly important days throughout the year, and the food eaten at these events developed into the modern-day “osechi.”

Modern osechi cuisine is eaten when families and relatives gather together to celebrate the New Year.

Osechi dishes look very visually appealing and are packed into square boxes called jubako.

The box symbolizes the bond between family and friends and has a meaning of sharing.

Putting osechi in a tiered box gives you a sense of a new beginning along with the blessings of the new year.

The origin of the name Osechi cuisine

The name Osechi cuisine is deeply connected to Japanese traditions and history.

The word “osechi” originally comes from the word “sekku.”

“Sekku” refers to ceremonies in which food and offerings are made to the gods at the change of seasons.

These offerings were originally meant as dedications to the gods, but gradually evolved into celebratory dishes for the home, which eventually led to the “osechi ryori” of today.

In the past, osechi cuisine was eaten not only on New Year’s Day but also on other festivals.

For example, osechi dishes were prepared for celebrations such as Girls’ Festival (Hinamatsuri) and Children’s Day (Tango no Sekku).

The concept of “sekku” was also important at these events, with special dishes being prepared to coincide with each seasonal celebration.

Learning the origin of the name makes it clear how deeply rooted osechi cuisine has been in Japanese life for a long time, and how deep its cultural significance is.

In this way, we can see that Osechi cuisine is not just any food, but a special dish with a long history that is imbued with feelings of gratitude to the gods and celebration.

The meaning of eating osechi on New Year’s Day

Eating osechi cuisine on New Year’s Day has a special meaning as it welcomes the New Year.

This custom is based on the Japanese belief in Toshigami.

Toshigami faith is the idea of ​​welcoming the gods in the new year, and is an important ritual in which families gather together to give thanks and pray to the gods.

Osechi cuisine is made as part of the preparations to welcome the gods of the year.

There is also the practical reason that families are busy around the New Year period and don’t have time to cook, so it’s good to prepare food that can be stored in advance.

This is the background to why osechi dishes came to be made as preserved foods.

Furthermore, each dish in the New Year’s feast has its own auspicious meaning.

For example, “Tazukuri” is eaten in hopes of a good harvest; in Japan, where agriculture was important, eating this dish was a way to pray for a good harvest.

Additionally, “Datemaki” represents a wish for the development of knowledge and culture, and is considered a symbol of hope for advancement in scholarship and the arts.

Gathering together as a family to eat these osechi dishes is not just a meal, but an important ritual to pray for safety and happiness in the new year.

As you can see, Osechi cuisine is a very special dish that symbolizes Japan’s unique beliefs and culture.

For foreigners, Osechi will be a good opportunity to learn about how Japanese people welcome the New Year and the culture of praying and making wishes through food.

Characteristics of Osechi cuisine and how to pack it

A staple of New Year’s cuisine

Osechi cuisine uses a variety of ingredients, each with its own special meaning.

The reason why osechi dishes are packed in tiered boxes is to cherish the auspicious belief of “accumulating good fortune.”

We hope that by putting things in a jubako, good fortune will accumulate.

Additionally, odd numbers of items are preferred because they are considered to be “yang numbers” and therefore auspicious.

In traditional Japanese thought, Yang numbers (1, 3, 5, etc.) symbolize growth and prosperity.

Some of the standard dishes at Osechi include:

Herring roe (prosperity of descendants)

Kazunoko are fish eggs, and are associated with the hope of an increase in descendants. Having many eggs symbolizes prosperity and longevity.

Chestnut Kinton (fortune)

Kurikinton is characterized by its golden color and is said to bring good fortune and wealth.

Konbumaki (a pun on the word “delight”)

The Japanese word for konbu sounds similar to the word yorokobu (to be happy), and it symbolizes wishing for happiness.

Datemaki (development of knowledge and culture)

Datemaki represents a wish for academic and cultural growth, and its round shape is considered a symbol of wisdom.

These ingredients may be slightly tweaked depending on the household, but they all have auspicious meanings.

It is a tradition to pray for the health, happiness, and prosperity of family and close friends through osechi cuisine.

I believe that through osechi cuisine, people from other countries can also understand how the ingredients and shapes of the dishes reflect Japanese culture and wishes.

How to pack New Year’s food into a tiered box and the meaning of the number of layers

The way osechi dishes are packed into tiered boxes is imbued with a uniquely Japanese sense of beauty and deep meaning.

A tiered box is usually made up of four layers, with each layer assigned a special role.

First layer (celebratory food)

The top tier contains celebratory snacks (appetizers).

Typical examples include black beans (to pray for good health), herring roe (to pray for prosperity of descendants), and rice crackers (to pray for a good harvest).

This tier contains auspicious dishes that are eaten first when family and close friends gather during the New Year holidays.

Second layer (pottery)

The second tier is lined with pottery.

For example, sea bream and yellowtail (both famous as celebratory fish).

These not only add a touch of elegance to the dining table, but also serve as auspicious symbols.

Sea bream in particular is associated with auspiciousness and is an indispensable item at celebratory banquets.

Third layer (stew)

The third tier is where the stew is placed.

Common dishes include Chikuzenni and taro, which have deep flavors that can be enjoyed while praying for the health and happiness of the family.

Because stews are cooked for a long time, eating them symbolizes longevity and stability.

Yonoju (side dishes and desserts)

The fourth tier may contain less elaborate dishes or desserts.

Side dishes such as pickles and rice cakes, or sweet chestnut paste for dessert, are added to balance the entire bento box.

In particular, chestnut kinton brings joy to those who eat it because of its sweetness.

In this way, the way the boxes are packed not only ensures a beautiful appearance and balance of the food, but also shows delicate consideration for good luck.

By putting care into the colors and arrangement of the ingredients, and the role of each tier, the importance of New Year’s in Japanese culture and wishes for family and society are expressed.

By understanding the meaning behind each layer of osechi ryori, foreigners will also be able to experience the cultural value of osechi ryori, which goes beyond simple food, and the careful attention to detail of the Japanese people.

おせち料理の食材とその意味

Black beans

Black beans represent the wish for good health and longevity.

Herring roe

Kazunoko is fish egg and is said to represent a prayer for the prosperity of descendants.

Like a fish with many eggs, it represents the wish for prosperity and longevity.

Konbumaki

Konbu is associated with the word yorokobu (delight), and eating it is said to bring happiness.

It is believed that food wrapped in kelp will bring joy and good fortune to family and close friends.

Chestnut Kinton

The golden color of chestnut kinton symbolizes luck with money and fortune.

Eating golden food on New Year’s Day represents the hope for a prosperous year.

These ingredients are not just flavorful, they also have deep meanings and wishes attached to them, so by knowing this you can enjoy osechi ryori in a deeper and more meaningful way.

For foreigners, understanding the cultural background of the ingredients in osechi cuisine will give them a richer understanding of the way Japan celebrates the New Year.