I know, I’m a week late. I decided to take a little break over the holidays while the kids were off school. Hope you all had a great holiday season.
We had our usual crazy 3 Christmases. One Christmas morning at our house, just the girls, Sean and I. The second, Christmas night at my mother-in-laws with Sean’s family. Then I pack up all the decorations the next day and pack to go to my parent’s house for 5 days of Christmas 3 with my family. We drive home after dinner on New Year’s Eve. I actually made it to midnight this year. Then we celebrate New Year’s Day with Sean’s family.
Needless to say, it’s an exhausting week. The girls even slept in at my parent’s house and after we got home (except 6:30 am Sammy). Getting back into the swing of things for school this week could be painful. Penny and Ella are not morning people and don’t appreciate being woken to go to school.
I thought I’d share some pictures of the food from New Year’s Day at my mother-in-law’s house. Like a lot of Asian cultures, New Year’s is a big deal in the Japanese tradition. They celebrate January 1, versus the lunar New Year like some other Asian cultures. It’s a tradition I hope my girls will carry forward. All of the recipes are handed down orally in my husband’s family. You learn to cook by watching, helping, and tasting. So I have no idea how to make any of these, but they carry significance for good fortune in the New Year. (Sorry they’re all sideways. I couldn’t get them to rotate.)
Tamago and Fish cake
Tamago is sweet egg it’s meant for luck and fertility in the New Year. The fish cake has the character for luck in it and is also for fertility. (I did not eat any of those.)
Tangerine atop mochi
No one could tell me what this symbolizes, but my mother-in-law insists it’s an essential part of New Year’s. Also, she said it’s not a snowman.
Mixed vegetables
The mixed vegetables are soo good! The lotus (the brown one in the middle) is supposed to allow you to look at the New Year through it’s holes. The orange things, which I forget what they are, are cut in the lotus shape for, you guessed it, fertility. There are also mushrooms, peas, and some root vegetables in it.
Black beans with mango
The sweet black beans (one of my favorites) is for good luck. You’re supposed to eat one bean for every year you are old.
Root vegetables
This is my favorite. It’s julienned carrots and another Japanese root vegetable in a spicy sauce. It’s supposed to bring longevity.
How was your New Year’s? Do you have any traditions you hope your children carry on?
Twitter: litasworld
says:
WOW- that all looks super yummy!!! Happy New Year!!! – though I’m sad to see the holidays end as I sit here in my office :)
Happy New Year to you too! It is sad to see it end, although, my kids are in school today and I’m home, so I’m probably not as sad as you are at work. :)