Between January 1st and 3rd is traditional New Year's celebration period for Japanese people. Most people get New Year vacation between December 31st and January 3rd though some of shopping malls and restaurants remain open in recent years.
People have family/friends gathering and go out for their first visit to a shrine or a temple to make New Year wishes during the New Year's celebration period. In short it is a New Year's party time. In old times people get together at their home since all restaurants were closed. There are traditional New Year's celebration dishes called "Osechi Ryouri" and people cook or buy those dishes ahead of time and eat them with Sake for the first 3 days of the New Year.
The traditional New Year's dishes have various kinds and usually people prepare many kinds as a New Year's dish set. The photo above is showing an example. Also depending on the regions they are different. Therefore there are great many different kinds of New Year's dishes. Moreover, dishes from both the father and mother can be mixed to make a new combination. Therefore each family would have their own combination for the New Year's dish set as a family tradition. However, all of dishes basically have a lucky meaning or a lucky shape to wish a good year.
Actually the dishes in the photo above are the New Year's dish set of my family. To cook all of New Year's dishes needs a lot of time and labor, but it would be one of the seasonal events for many families and we can enjoy New Year's party with lots of food for 3 days.
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