Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog

December 29, 2020: Ringing in the New Year with Mr. Clean and dust pans!

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In case you missed it, here’s my Dark Matter Episode 13 discussion with gang at Orville Nation and special guest star Marc Bendavid (ONE) as part of Virtual Trek Con.  But beware!  Spoilers abound for future episodes!

Well, my hopes of an upset victory fizzled last night.  Once again, the Patriots screw me – but by NOT winning for a change.

Sad-snow-monkey

Sad monkey. 🙁

Akemi has informed me that, starting tomorrow, we have to take part in “osouji”, the Japanese deep-cleaning tradition that will see us symbolically cleanse the household ahead of a new year while literally dusting, scrubbing, and generally tidying up before ringing in 2021.  It’s a quaint custom but, as I explained to Akemi, I feel that my taking part would be tantamount to cultural appropriation and so I don’t feel comfortable participating.  Akemi’s response was: “As long as you do it with respect, no problem.”, but I don’t know if I can respectfully clean the place from top to bottom over the course of an entire day.  So, to be on the safe side, I’m not going to opt out while wholly respecting my wife’s adherence to this important ceremony.

Speaking of which, do you have any end of year of New Year traditions you’ll be observing?  Getting a hair cut?  Buy new shoes?  Eating soba and snapper?  Do tell.

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13 responses

  1. nantokanaru77 Avatar
    nantokanaru77

    I find this amusing.
    Osouji o otanoshiin de kudasai !
    Please enjoy some toshikoshi soba after you are done. LOL

    Reply
  2. Gildermcc Avatar
    Gildermcc

    I may revive one of our old New Year’s Day customs: sitting down with Husband to discuss potential travel plans. We got out of the habit when he retired, over a decade ago.

    Reply
  3. Jacqueline Avatar
    Jacqueline

    There’s an old tradition in Ireland that involves having a thoroughly clean house before the New Year arrives (so it would also be spotless if you were to host a party on NYE, for example). And obviously, pre-Covid.

    Another tradition involves opening the back door of the house (just before midnight) to let the old year out, and opening the front door of the house to let the new year in. If you’ve neighbours who also carry out this tradition, it’s natural to wish them a happy new year.

    This year, however, no events or parties are taking place. We’ve just entered another 6-week lockdown, so it’s staying home and staying safe for me!

    Reply
  4. Ponytail Avatar
    Ponytail

    “Akemi has informed me that, starting tomorrow, we have to take part in “osouji”, the Japanese deep-cleaning tradition that will see us symbolically cleanse the household ahead of a new year while literally dusting, scrubbing, and generally tidying up before ringing in 2021.”

    I just eat some black-eyed-peas and I’m done. 🙂

    Reply
  5. gforce Avatar
    gforce

    I feel bad for the poor Snow Monkeys. 🙁

    I love the idea of osouji! But only if someone else is doing it. Though I might empty the dishwasher when it’s done on New Year’s Eve day, if that counts.

    No big NYE traditions here. The main one I’ve settled on the last couple of years is going to bed before midnight and then waking up in the morning realizing the new year is really just one day more past the old year.

    Reply
  6. Tan Dixob Avatar
    Tan Dixob

    We’ve never gone out for NYE. Too many drunks, too much traffic and hassle. We like to watch movies at home and have a good dinner. This year fits into our wheelhouse.

    I’ve been cleaning like crazy here too. It just feels right. My family isn’t having as much fun with the actual work , much like yourself. 😉 All I hear from them is “It’s our vacation, we shouldn’t be working. “ They like the results though.

    Thank you, for sharing your Akemi story.

    Thank you, everyone for sharing your stories, as well. I love getting these glimpses of other cultures.

    Reply
  7. Barbaro Avatar
    Barbaro

    The New Years Day tradition is pork and sauerkraut. The local fire company always has the best, but of course they’re not doing it this year so we have to make our own.

    Reply
  8. tamdixon Avatar
    tamdixon

    🙂 That’s what I get when I post from my phone.

    Reply
  9. maggiemayday Avatar
    maggiemayday

    Having lived in Japan all those years, house cleaning is part of my tradition now too. However, I physically suck at cleaning, and it is a big house. Mostly I make sure the kitchen is clean, clean sheets on the bed, vacuuming done, all trash cans empty. You can’t bring in a new year with trash in the house. what I miss is the Osechi box, one of my neighbors used to make elaborate boxes for us every year in Yokosuka. Amazing.

    Reply
  10. Drea Avatar
    Drea

    Hey, Mister! Considering you so flagrantly blew off getting Akemi this absolutely fabulous sherpa dress for Christmas so she could feel like she was wearing a bathrobe all day while out walking with Suji or doing grocery shopping, https://www.usmagazine.com/shop-with-us/news/nirovien-cozy-sherpa-long-sleeve-fuzzy-dress-amazon-fashion/ , the least you can do to make up for it
    is thoroughly clean out the refrigerator to help out with end of the year housekeeping!

    Reply
  11. shiinyhula Avatar
    shiinyhula

    If I was at my parents back in the day then the place would be spotless ready for pop ins by neighbors, which my mom would continue hosting long after I’d left to meet friends to then go visit more neighbors. Neighbors in, neighbors out, and in each home a glass of sorrel or nog, with a slice of fruit cake or Easter bun. My dad would take a strategic long nap to avoid all visitors though, he didn’t see the point in welcoming folks you saw everyday.

    I just cleared two giant bags of litter, then got groceries delivered, and after an hour of cleaning everything and another of chopping I have lovely wafer thin beef strips on the stove, with celery and parsley, tons of spices with half an orange squeezed in to further tenderize. It’ll be hours yet before I have dinner, I’ll be simmering, adding carrots and simmering more to get that perfect reduction.

    Reply
  12. Colleen O'Shaughnessy Avatar
    Colleen O’Shaughnessy

    Going to bed early on NYE and starting the New Year by reading a book from cover to cover. Perhaps a veggie pizza thrown in for good measure.

    Reply
  13. dasndanger Avatar
    dasndanger

    Waitwaitwaitwaitwait! Wife? WhatdImiss?

    I snoozed, I losed. 😛

    das

    Reply

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