Each country or religion has own way to spend holidays.We also have a certain way to enjoy dinner and wait for new year.
I’d like to introduce Japanese traditional dinner for New Year’s Eve and new year.
What is Toshikoshi soba?
New Year’s Eve, we usually eat “Toshikoshi soba” for dinner. That’s traditional which started around edo period (1603-1867).
Toshikoshi means “year crossing”. Soba is a kind of noodle which color is light brown.
There are some reasons why people started eating it long years ago.
Live for long and thin
Soba shapes long and thin, so they hoped it.
I know it sounds odd for non Japanese. Lol
Cut off bad fortunes
They also hope they can cut off something bad since it is easy to cut (soft).
What we put into Toshikoshi soba
There is no rule, whatever you want.
For instance,
- Veggies – green veggies such as spinach or kyouna
- Chicken – boiled
- Kamaboko(fish paste) – sliced
Anything can be added like an egg, yum, natto, okura, seaweed, and etc.
Some people eat it at restaurant, the others who don’t cook eat an instant soba, whatever.
When we eat Soba
Another traditional situation you eat soba is, “hikkoshi soba”.
Hikkoshi means “moving in”
Some of you might realize, it’s for when you moving in.
I’d write for the next time when I move to new place.
* Actually I’m looking for the place to move these days 😉
