Kagami-mochi Pounding Day
Seasonal EventsWhat Is Kagami-mochi Pounding Day?
In many parts of Japan, December 28 is the day to pound kagami-mochi and put up New Year decorations. It is not an officially designated anniversary but a long-standing seasonal custom. The 28th is chosen because the character for eight is seen as auspicious, its shape widening toward the bottom.
Why the 29th and the 31st Are Avoided
Certain dates have traditionally been avoided for year-end mochi pounding and decorating -- which is exactly what makes the 28th the preferred day.
- Why the 28th is good: eight is considered an auspicious number that "widens toward the end"
- Why the 29th is avoided: it can be read as "double suffering" or "suffering mochi"
- Why the 31st is avoided: called "one-night mochi," seen as preparing for the gods at the last minute and lacking sincerity
- What kagami-mochi means: a resting place for the New Year deity who arrives with the new year
Round, Because Old Mirrors Were Round
The name kagami-mochi -- "mirror mochi" -- is said to come from the round shape of old bronze mirrors. Mirrors were regarded as sacred objects in which a deity could dwell, so mochi was shaped to match. The decoration is eaten later, at the kagami-biraki in January.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Buy your kagami-mochi and New Year decorations and put them up on the 28th
- Clean the spot first, then set the mochi in place
- Check the date of kagami-biraki and put it in your calendar
- Tell your family why the 29th and 31st are skipped
Auspicious Timing as a Way to Close the Year
Pounding mochi on the 28th rests on wordplay and good fortune rather than any scientific reason. Even so, fixing a date and getting to work marks the close of the year. December 28 moves New Year preparations one step forward.