When I think about New Years, I think of...
1. House cleaning
New Years preparations always begin with house cleaning before New Years day. My mom says that you need to sweep out all the bad spirits accumulated over the past year, but you don't clean on New Years day because its a good luck day and you might sweep out good spirits instead.
Just to be on the safe side, I plan on not doing any cleaning for the entire month of January.
2. Mochi (rice cakes)
Not only the name of my cat, but one of my favorite foods. During the week between Christmas and New Years we used to gather at my uncle's house for mochi tsuki or pounding and making of rice cakes. We always pounded it the old fashioned way with a usu (mortar) and wooden mallet, but as everyone's gotten older we've recently switched to electronic mochi makers that do all the work for us. Just today my mom's mochi maker did the pounding of 10 men while she read the newspaper.
3. Ozoni (mochi soup)
It's customary on New Years to eat ozoni for strength and prosperity. At my house eating ozoni is not optional - my mom will chase you around with a bowl of ozoni until you succumb. This is of course due to the fact that she's already consumed large quantities of ozoni and therefore has the strength to wear you down until you eat some.
I actually love ozoni, and eat lots of it at New Years although I have yet to notice an increase in either my muscle tone or pocketbook.
4. Soba (buckwheat noodles)
Soba is eaten on New Years eve for long life. I'm not a big soba fan but since I neither eat right nor exercise much, I always make sure to have some.
5. Kadomatsu
Kadomatsu (like the one in the first photo) are placed at the entrances to houses. The pine represents longevity, and the bamboo represent strength and flexibility.
6. Kagami mochi
Kagami mochi consist of a small round mochi cake stacked on a larger one and topped with a tangerine and which are displayed throughout the house, at work and sometimes even in ones car.
7. Fireworks
In Hawaii, the eve also means fireworks - lots and lots of them. Popping firecrackers is a Chinese custom done to chase away bad spirits but over the years its become a tradition for everyone in Hawaii. Driving around Oahu on the eve, every corner of the sky is lit up with aerial fireworks (many of them illegal) and you also see hoists rigged onto garage roofs strung up with yards of bundled firecrackers.
At midnight it really gets crazy with everyone setting off bundles of 10,000 50,000 and even 100,000 firecrackers all at once. No matter where you are, the sound is deafening and the smoke generated can be an asthmatic's nightmare. I've driven home from parties early New Year's morning where the smoke is so thick its hard to see even 10 feet in front of your car.
8. Kohaku Uta Gassen
On New Years day we always watch the NHK Red and White Song Contest which features the top singers and music acts in Japan in a men versus women song competition. I don't keep up with Japanese music anymore but it's always entertaining to watch.
Buddy, Mr. T and I are refraining from the fireworks this year and instead celebrating the eve with ear plugs and Dick Clark. And on New Years Day we're off to my aunties for lots of good food and fun.
However you celebrate, I hope you have a healthy, happy and prosperous Year of the Dog!
Happy new year to you too! I like the idea of not cleaning in January, I may have to adopt that one (just pretending I don't already do that by default anyway). I am SO excited to read this post because I didn't know that there are such things as mochi makers!!! How have I missed this? Do you put in whole grain sweet rice? Not the mochiko powder? If you wouldn't mind giving me more details, I'd be so grateful! Does it make good mochi? What brand/model does your mom have? I know what I'm getting with the gift card my brother gave me for Christmas! Can you feel the excitement here?
Posted by: Amanda | December 30, 2005 at 04:21 AM
Cute dog, and thanks for the msg. about the Totoro cakes! Too cute to eat. I have to remember to soak the rice overnight! My mom, chief ozoni maker is on a cruise, oh what to do. Wonder if there is instant ozoni? Ha! Have a good one!
Posted by: Barb | December 30, 2005 at 05:36 AM
Wow, Myra, thank you for the lesson. I'm going to share your post with my kids so they can see how New Year's is celebrated in Hawaii. Maybe it will even encourage them to help me clean house! I doubt it, but it's worth a try! Wishing you and your family a fabulous 2006!
Posted by: Bettsi | December 30, 2005 at 06:41 AM
I love your traditions. Our household tries very hard to combine Hispanic traditions with the Southern ones. Sometimes I think I should make tamales stuffed with blackeyed peas and greens and name the dish after our sons! Hmmmm...now that I think of it... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Posted by: debbie | December 30, 2005 at 08:48 AM
thanks! it was really fun to know of your traditions. we set of fireworks too. :)
Posted by: Aimee Roo | December 30, 2005 at 09:33 AM
that's so cool! your new year's traditions sound really fun and it's neat to hear about them! hope you have a wonderful new year's eve and day, (love the cleaning "tips" by the way) and all the best to you in 2006!
Posted by: cynthia | December 30, 2005 at 02:01 PM
Cute dog, but it's not Chinese New Year's yet. Technically, it's still last year. It won't be the year of the dog until Jan 29, 2006. :-) Happy new year non-the-less!
Posted by: Amy | December 30, 2005 at 05:44 PM
Great post-- funny & educational! Thanks for sharing & Happy New Year!
Posted by: megan | December 30, 2005 at 05:45 PM
wow, what wonderful traditions, thank you so much for sharing! somehow i am going to find a good place to try some mochi in kansas city, there has to be one somewhere!! happy new year and enjoy the night protecting your ears!
Posted by: hannah | December 31, 2005 at 11:50 AM
Happy 2006 to you too!! I'm sure glad our family is full of wonderful tradtions!! Yup, we surely got "chased down" to have some of yummy ozoni.. Here's wishing ya all a happy and safe new year! For all those "year of the dogs" (me included) - we are known to be faithful and ready to serve-that is why we can gain the respect of others!! Cheers!!!
Posted by: kris | December 31, 2005 at 03:16 PM
Happy New Year!!xxx
Posted by: Nichola | January 01, 2006 at 12:45 AM
I've spent many a New Year's Eve in Hawaii, and I have to say that the fireworks rival those of the 4th of July!!!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Leslie | January 01, 2006 at 12:01 PM
Happy New Year to you and your family!! I love dogs and I know this will be a great year for all of us!! Thanks for sharing your traditions. These Mochi and Ozoni sounds good!
Posted by: natascha | January 02, 2006 at 02:06 AM
akemashite omedetou (happy new year)! i've been reading your blog for a little while now but this is my first comment. i couldn't help but post when i read about your traditions because they're pretty much the same as mine (except for the fireworks since i'm in LA). i *thought* about doing my cleaning before january started (but surprise, surprise i didn't get around to it), my parents hosted their mochi-making party last week, i made soba on new year's eve, we had ozoni yesterday, and i wondered about which side won kouhaku. it's so nice to share traditions, especially big ones like new year's!
have a wonderful new year!!
Posted by: yucaree | January 02, 2006 at 08:43 AM
I love Hawaii (my Aunty and Uncle live there) and have been their for NYE, it's such an exciting night. I love your cute little blog, so much so that you are on my everyday list, cheers and Happy 2006!
Posted by: justine | January 02, 2006 at 11:16 AM
YES! The Year of the Dog! (my year) I love your list- happy New Year to you! I just love your blog so much that I tagged you on my blog! What's on your calendar?
Posted by: PJ | January 02, 2006 at 12:26 PM
Wow! I love your list of traditions! I'm Japanese and live in Hawaii and didn't know about the postcard one! I love that idea! I wish I could join your swap but I think I may have too much going on in January! Can't wait to see posts of some of them! Happpy New Year 2006!
Posted by: stace | January 03, 2006 at 11:36 PM