In Japan, rice is very important to the culture, and during winter, especially over New Year, Japanese make a special kind of rice called Mochi. Mochi is a kind of cake made from sticky rice plate. They are not only eaten during the New Year holidays after being broiled or served in a soup, but they are also often used for many traditional ceremonies in Japan.
A child's 1st birthday, for example, is a particular occasion in Japan, and different customs are practiced from one region to another. One common custom is to have the toddler carry a large mochi ,weighing about 一升 issho = 4 pounds, on his or her back. The word for the volume unit issho is a homophone for 一生issho meaning "a whole lifetime," and the issho mochi symbolizes the parents' hope that the child will grow up healthy and never go hungry throughout his or her lifetime. It is also said that the child who walks before he's one year old will move out of the house early or will pass away before his parents do. To prevent the misfortunes from happening, he or she must walk with the heavy rice cake slung across his shoulder to help him fall down. If he does not fall, parents need to throw rice cakes at him to roll him over. In some places, a one-year old receives a gift of a sword or a pair of scissors, in others the child is given a selection of items to choose from: rice, money, an abacus, a ruler, and a calligraphy brush. The object the child chooses is thought to determine his or her future.
What I learned from this occasion is that food is not only eaten for diet, but also for something we use as a way to celebrate things. In addition, I noticed that food is really connected to a culture. That is why we have so many different kinds of food based on each culture. So, we can think about the meaning or the purpose of food when we eat it. That would be very interesting.
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When I saw the word "Mochi", I thought you would talk about some types of ice cream. When i went to the Asian market with my mom, at the frozen isle I saw a whole bunch of mochi ice creams that look like little balls with different flavors. So I'm guessing mochi rice is kind of look like that. Anyways, about the tradition, it is quite similar to my culture. I'm half Vietnamese and half Chinese. My family tends to lean more on the Chinese culture. On my first birthday, my parents put out things like: money, a pen, a toothbrush, book, ect.They told me i picked the toothbrush and they said that i will grow up become a dentist. We all know is not really true because i want to become a pharmacist.
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