日本語は英語の後に続きます。Japanese follows.
Musubiyanagi willow decoration (long green
branches of willow) is displayed in the
tokonoma (alcove in a traditional Japanese
tatami room) on New Year’s Day.
Musubiyanagi, which is thought to have
originated from the custom of send-off during
the Tang Dynasty in China, has been fixed in
the tea room on New Year’s Day as an ornament
for celebrating the New Year’s safety and the
start of a new year, as if praying for a safe trip.
The reason why it is so long that it hangs down
on the tatami mat is that people wish to live a
long and frugal life like willow branches and
prays that new sprouts will emerge like a willow
at this time of year. It seems that there are
various meanings.
One of the New Year’s Japanese wagashi sweets
for good luck is “ekubo manju (dimple sweet
bun)”. The top of “joyo manju (bun with bean
jam filling)” is slightly dented with a red dot to
express the dimple of a smiling woman. Those
with no dent on the top and only a red dot are
called “egao manju (smile sweet bun)” and both
are celebration sweets with the wish of filling
a new year with happiness and laughter.
I had “ekubo manju” and matcha with the tea
bowl associated with Year of the Rat.
正月に床の間に飾られる結び柳。唐の時代
の送別の慣わしによると思われる結び柳は
旅の無事を祈るように新しい年を無事に
また門出を祝う飾りとして正月の茶室に
定着している。
畳につくほど長く垂れていけるのは、柳の
ように細く、長く、またこの時期に新しい
芽を息吹く柳のように芽が出るようにと
様々な意味がかけられているようだ。
縁起物として正月の菓子に用いられるもの
のひとつに「えくぼ饅頭」がある。薯蕷饅頭
の上部を少し窪ませ、朱点をつけ、笑った
女性のえくぼを表現しているとか。上部を
窪ませず、朱点だけのものは「えがお饅頭」
といい、どちらも「笑顔の絶えない一年に
なるように」という願いを込めた祝菓子。
子年の茶碗で一服。