What is Japanese New Year "Osechi" lunchbox?

In Japan, there is a tradition that we prepare”Osechi” (お節) lunchbox and eat it at the beginning of the New Year.
Osechi lunchbox is full of superb cuisine handmade Japanese omelet, boiled black beans and reds-white-colored Kamaboko(かまぼこ) and so on.

Even though Osechi is such a popular culture in Japan, even many of Japanese people don’t exactly know where was this culture come from.

Osechi culture is said be start at Yayoi era. (B.C300 to A.D300)
At that time, when people harvested rice, they perform rituals and festivals to thank God at every end of four seasons.
They presented offering to God what they harvested. (節供)

And this custom still survives and so is the kanji of 節（供）
And it is called お節 now.

So Osechi used to be an offering to God to celebrate new season and to Thank God.

Osechi is usually packed within “Jubako”(重箱) which means Nest of Box.

The number of layers was originally four. These days, three-layered Jubako is also quite common.
Each layer of Jubako has originally had a different meaning.

explanation on top layer

Explanation on second layer

Explanation on Third Layer

Explanation on 4th Layer

As you see now, Osechi represents Japanese tradition and belief toward Gods.
These days young Japanese don’t care much about history, but the tradition of Osechi itself still lives on.

If you got a chance to visit Japan at New Year time, and if you would like to try Japanese traditional thing I suggest you try Osechi yourself!!

You can find at any department store just like, Takashimaya department store, or Isetan department store.