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sea cucumber.
why.
why start the year with sea cucumber.
because the country hates itself.
@Thad - Or rice-goo.. yes, goo from rice.. yuck!
Well, the tradition makes sense - they had to prepare food in advance since everywhere was closed in the few days after New Years, so whatever is in Osechi is limited to foodstuff that can last a while.
We have a slightly similar thing here in Denmark (although the new government wants to remove the day) with Store Bededag, where everyone is supposed to eat wheat buns, because traditionally everywhere was closed - even the bakeries, so you had to stock up on the wheat buns for the entire family that could be eaten the next day.
But admittedly it does not sound like the kind of Japanese cuisine I like, though :)
@Casper - Same in Sweden with all the god damned pickled herring for all bigger celebrations :) Love me some pickled herring tho.. so it's the same everywhere I guess.. tho osechi is horrible.
