英会話

お正月の過ごし方

KEVIN : So, Reiko, it's almost New Year's Day. How do the Japanese celebrate the new year?
REIKO : In the first few days of the new year, I go with my family to a shrine, where we pray so that we will have good luck and stay healthy for the rest of the year. It's called hatsumode.
KEVIN : Hatsumode. Right, and I see you've decorated your house as well. What are the pine branches and bamboo decorations on each side of the door?
REIKO : They're called Kadomatsu.
KEVIN : And what about those two round rice cakes with the mandarin on top?
REIKO : That's called Kagamimochi.
KEVIN : Do you get to eat those rice cakes？
REIKO : Well, no, but we do put rice cakes in a soup with some vegetables. It's called ozoni, and we usually eat it in the first few days of the new year.
KEVIN : Are there any other dishes that you usually have around this time?
REIKO : Yes, osechi ryori.
KEVIN : What's that?
REIKO : All sorts of special types of food that come beautifully arranged in boxes, one on top of the other.
KEVIN : Sounds delicious. Are there any other customs?
REIKO : Relatives usually give the children money. The older you are, the more money you get. It's called otoshidama.
KEVIN : Sounds good to me.
REIKO : Oh, and one other thing: If you see Mt. Fuji, a hawk or an eggplant in your first dream of the year, you will have a lucky year.
KEVIN : My first dream of the year? Is that on the night of the new year or the second night?
REIKO : The second night. It's called hastuyume.

ここではお正月の過ごし方の英会話や年中行事の英会話などを学ぶ事が出来ます。その他に「おふろの入り方」や「神社のおまいり法」なども紹介しています。