Kagami mochi - Kagami mochi

Japanese: 鏡餅 - カガミモチ

Flat, circular rice cakes. Two, one large and one small, are stacked together and offered to the gods and Buddhas during New Year's and other celebrations. Offerings. Okami. 《New Year's Day 》 "--The three demons split the rice cakes and sat in a dark place."
[Additional information] On three sides Four Reds Shihobeni (or hosho paper) and place the mochi on top. Yuzuruha The yield , kelp Hump , Back white Urajiro ,shrimp, Sacred offering Okay , orange Orange Decorate with items such as:
Four Directions Red: Prayer to the four directions of heaven and earth to ward off evil and pray for prosperity in the coming year.
Yoriha: Since new leaves appear before the old ones fall, this symbolizes the auspicious connection between the old and new families.
Konbu: It is said to be a pun on the word yorokobu (to be happy).
Urashira: It is said to represent prayers for longevity, lasting prosperity, and having no hidden meaning.
Shrimp: I hope I live long enough to bend my back.
Gohei: It is said that it is offered with hands spread wide in all four directions, praying for prosperity.
Orange: As the fruit remains on the tree through the New Year, it is a symbol of good fortune and has been associated with "generations."
[Similar words] Mochi, stretched mochi, mirror, cut mochi, hishi mochi, sea cucumber Sea cucumber Mochi, Torinoko mochi, Mizumochi, Yakimochi

Source: About Shogakukan Digital Daijisen Information | Legend

Japanese:

平たく円形に作った餅。大小2個をひと重ねにし、正月や祝いのとき、神仏に供える。おそなえ。おかがみ。《季新年》「―暗きところに割れて坐す／三鬼」
[補説]三方の上に四方紅しほうべに（または奉書紙）を敷き、その上に餅を置いて、譲葉ゆずりは、昆布こぶ、裏白うらじろ、海老、御幣ごへい、橙だいだいなどを飾る。
四方紅：天地四方を拝して災いを払い、一年の繁栄を祈願する。
譲葉：新葉が出てから古い葉が落ちるので、新旧相ゆずる（家系がつながる）という縁起を祝う。
昆布：よろこぶ（喜ぶ）との語呂合わせという。
裏白：長寿を祈願する、久しく栄える、裏表がないなどの意味があるとされる。
海老：腰が曲がるまで長寿であることを願う。
御幣：四方に大きく手を広げ、繁盛することを願うとされる。
橙：実が木についたまま年を越すところから「代々」に掛けて縁起を祝う。
[類語]餅・伸し餅・お鏡・切り餅・菱餅・海鼠なまこ餅・鳥の子餅・水餅・焼き餅

出典　小学館デジタル大辞泉について　情報 | 凡例

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