Kagami Biraki

11th January...today is 鏡開き [Kagami Biraki] day.
What is Kagami Biraki day?
We set up a display of special rice cake "Kagami Moti" (like this photo) in new year's day.
One meaning is that make an offering to the gods.
And then, it's time for split these rice cakes today.
It's from Samurai custom.
So,don't use any blade. Because,it might give Samurai people an idea of Harakiri (ritual suicide).　
Of course,we don't care it at all now...
Actually,that day was 20th January.
But,Iemitsu the third Tokugawa shogun died 20th April 1651.
So,old people avoided 20th for taht day.

What should we do for split rice cakes??
We eat!! haha. We cook rice cakes boiled in vegetable soup and so on.
We think that thanksful for the gods and wish for the safety our family.
And,it means ending new year's day and start working hard...

Umm...acually,it's not all family doing it now...
However,it's traditional Japanese custom.