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Why Japanese People Eat a Bowl of Soba Noodles on New Year’s Eve
We can all use a moment of quiet to let go of the past year’s burdens
When we think of holiday foods, more often than not we think of something big and gaudy, something worth taking a photo of on a big table spread. We imagine a giant stuffed turkey, an assortment of colorful roasted vegetables, or a laboriously decorated, dense, chocolate Christmas cake. It’s hearty, it’s abundant, and most of all it’s celebratory.
Japan is usually no different — there is its own tradition in colorful and celebratory food — except on New Year’s Eve.
A New Year’s Eve tradition of soba noodles and…silence?
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, many countries have a tradition of loud fireworks, big confetti, and lots of flashing lights — but in Japan, you might be surprised to find that midnight happens in silence, with nothing but the sound of a ringing temple bell.
It’s quiet, it’s peaceful, and with it, you might enjoy a bowl of soba noodles.
The tradition is known as toshikoshi soba, which translates to “year crossing” soba, where one would enjoy a bowl of soba on New Year’s Eve, often at a time close to midnight.
