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.

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