Today is December 1st and, of course, December is the last month, so you could refer to it as the youngest child and so today marks the New Year of the youngest. My grandfather on my mother’s side used to talk about this “New Year of the youngest child”. However, I don’t recall what kind of food he prepared to celebrate the day. I only thought of buying mochi or rice cakes at a neighborhood grocery store. For, we Japanese often relate the food with festive occasions. I am certain my grandfather didn’t buy them but instead he made them himself, though.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like me to write, please let me know by sending it (them) to my address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
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今日は12月1日で、12月は最後の月だから「末っ子の月」と考えられます。それで今日は末っ子の元日で、母方の祖父がよくこの「乙子の正月（末っ子の正月）」を言っていたと思います。けれども、どういう食べ物などでどういうふうに祝っていたのかは覚えていません。とりあえず、近所のスーパーでお餅を買ってきました。祖父は買わないで作ったでしょうけれど。
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さて、私の書で見てみたいと思われるお好きな字や、言葉などがありましたら、chio_art@yushokai.com宛にお教えください。
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Star draws nigh to the treetop/
O, the month of December/
Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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