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Kagami-Biraki
by W.Holidays
January 11
The opening of the New Year's rice cakes.
In Japan, kagami-mochi (see below) are displayed in
an alcove on the New Year. On Kagami-biraki (January 11th) they
are taken down and eaten. By this time the kagami-mochi has harden and
cracked. It is a good luck charm, so it is not cut with a sharp object
rather it is opened by hand or with a hammer. Kagami-biraki literally
means opening the mirror.
Kagami-mochi are two round, flat rice cakes. One large and one small
cake are stacked on a stand. Although nowadays this is a traditional
decoration, the kagami-mochi was originally an offering to the year god.
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