「師走」と書いて「しわす」。 この場合の「師」が誰のことか、僧侶、先生、師匠など諸説あるようですが、とにかく１２月はいつも落ち着いた「師」さえ小走りになる忙しい月ということですね。
Japanese traditional name for December is Shiwasu (師走）.
”師” means something like a monk, a teacher, a master or a mentor.
”走” means to run.
Combined, it means that in December, everybody is busy; so busy that even a solemn man has got to run!
私も何やら小走り状態。
何をやっていたかというと…。
I am no exception.
What am I doing these days?
①大掃除 (+o+)
新年に幸福の年神さまをお迎えすべく、少しですが頑張ってます。
①Cleaning my house for the coming New Year (+o+)
We say Toshigami-sama (the god of New Year) will come to our house on the New Year's Day. So, in the hope that he will bring good luck to us, we are supposed to do the thorough house cleaning.
Thorough? Well, at least, I am trying.
②年賀状
パソコンのおかげで簡単になったとはいえ、大変ですよね。なんとか間に合いました。
②Making nengajo (New Year's Cards)
It's our tradition to send nengajo to our friends and relatives. These days, thanks to the computer, it's much easier and faster. But still, it takes time.
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③クリスマス
恒例のツリーも出しました。
③Enjoying Christmas
Setting up the tree, and getting together with friends...
We Japanese love Christmas feeling!
④大根でいろいろ手作り
友人の畑で大根の収穫を手伝いました。
たくさんもらったので、一度には食べきれないほど。
それでいろいろやってみました。
④Daikon, daikon, daikon!!!
I have a friend who is a great vegetable gardener. I go to his garden and help him pick up vegetables. December is the daikon season. I got a lot of very fresh, very delicious daikon.
I made...
甘酢漬け sweet-and-sour pickles
葉っぱも一緒に塩で漬けて salted pickles
赤い大根はきれいなピンク色になりました。
Red daikon makes pink pickles.
切り干し大根にも挑戦。
I even sun-dry some.
きれいにできました。これは冷凍庫で保存。
It's called Kiriboshi-daikon.
⑤忘年会
昨日は浅草でふぐ料理でしたが、良心的な浅草プライスに感激しました。
⑤Bonen-kai (The end-of-the-year Party)
I've attended a few. Yesterday, I had Bonen-kai at Asakusa and we had fugu (blowfish).
I liked its Asakusa price. (^_^)v
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浅草寺にもお参りしました。
The restaurant is near Senso-ji.
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ライトアップされてきれいでしたよ。
It was lit beautifully.
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スカイツリーと浅草寺の五重塔の共演。
緑の柳が怪しい雰囲気。
The Sky Tree and the five-story pagoda.
The willow tree looked mysteriously green.
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なんだかばたばたしているこのごろです。
ちょっと近況報告まで。
どうぞ楽しくお過ごしください。
＼(^o^)／
Having fun and doing chores, it's been a busy month.
I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful time of the year.
＼(^o^)／
13 comments:
大掃除?! Nooo! Don't remind me! Nooo! (>_<) I haven't done anything yet.
This teacher is definitely running around this month - lots of year-end admin and meetings.
Sensō-ji is so beautiful at night. And in the morning. And in the middle of the day. And in the evening. ^^
Enjoy the festive season, Merry Witch! Don't work too hard!
Rurousha,
I didn't like 大掃除 until I learned an old folktale about Toshigami-sama picking and staying in a thoroughly cleaned house.
In the hope that he will stay at my house, I'm trying. I hope he won't open my closet, though. (^_^;)
That's right! You are a teacher! But are you sure you are the solemn one? I thought you are a teacher in hiking boots. (^_-)
Sensoji was so beautiful. When I was there, I thought about you.
You too, have a happy holiday!
You have a really nice tree. I never bought one this year. I had to throw my last one out because my wonderfully naughty dog marked his territory. (僕の犬はクリスマースツリーでおしこした。) (O_O) I'm happy, like Ru, to enjoy the big tree outside called Sky Tree. ^^
I feel sorry for the nengajo. I wouldn't like to write it. I did write many Christmas cards for good students. I think it is easier than nengajo.
Cleaning? Too cold for that. I will do it in spring... maybe... I am become a dirty old man now. ^^
Dru,
Your dog did THAT? (>_<)
I feel sorry for you, but still, sorry, that's very FUNNY!! （＾◇＾）
Too cold? I thought you are from Canada!
I heard Michiterasu is sooooo crowded. Also, they are saying it's smaller in scale than the last one. I'm still planning to go, but maybe I won't see anything. Good luck to you!
Dru and Sox, you've made me laugh out loud! Naughty dog + dirty old man?! Poor Toshigama-sama! :D
Dru, I'm watching Sky Tree with an eagle eye. Tonight it's supposed to be a "candlelight" tree. Red? I hope so, and I hope we can see it clearly from this neighbourhood.
Merry Witch, last week I was very naughty at university, but I think my students enjoyed it. Every day I wore jeans and a different sweater with African cartoon animals. (I have many!) My Friday sweater was neon green with orange giraffes and purple elephants. I'm surprised I haven't been fired yet! :D
Enjoy the long weekend! ^^
It's red!!! It's red!!! Sky Tree is red!!! Wheee! Wait lemme take a photo ...
Rurousha,
I'm so jealous! You are now looking at candlelight Sky Tree! When you take a photo, I hope you will put it on your blog.
You wore neon green sweater with purple and orange animals? ＼(◎o◎)／！ Good job! You really woke your students up!
こんばんは。師走ですか、お忙しそうですね。 それに、おせち料理も作らなければ？
Merry Witch 様の生活には日本の伝統が息づいていて、羨ましいです。
Minoruさま
Minoruさまはあちこち旅行に行かれているようで、それこそうらやましいです。
そうですね、おせちも作らなければ。がんばります。 (^_^)v
Don't be sorry. I think it is very funny too. I never thought he would pee on a plastic tree. I was wrong. I might buy a new tree next year.
Ru: I saw Sky Tree in the red colours today too. I was taking photos just before 7pm when it went dark, then went green for 2 hours. I was annoyed to say the least. I only needed another 10 minutes! Oh well, I went back out and I have photos on Facebook. Links are on my blog still, but with your new found Twitter, you can use that too.
As for the cold, yes, it is too cold. I don't mind cleaning, but when you clean outside, it is tough. I may be from Canada, but I have been in Japan for a long time. I'm more used to Tokyo weather now.
Dru,
It's good your dog hasn't lost his natural instinct. Tree! Pee! (^_-)-☆
Are you sure you want to dare try it next year?
I learned they called off the Hikari Vision last night at six for the safety reason. They won't do it tonight either. As for tomorrow, they are not sure.
Well, he was neutered at about 3-4 years old. He loves to mark his territory. Makes for long walks.
I did hear about the Hikari Vision being cancelled. I will still try on Wednesday. I'll be near the station at 5pm, so I should be okay. Too many people. I think they should just close the street, or at least most of it. ^^
Dru,
Yes, they should close the street if they are going to hold such a big event.
But you should be OK on Wednesday. Good luck!
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