Osechi-ryori おせち料理 - Japanese special New Year meals traditionally made before New Year’s Day, and meant to last for 7 days without refrigeration. The original reason for needing it to last for 7 days is that there is a 7-day period of non-cooking to appease the fire god, Kohji. He would get upset and cause a natural hazard if you made fire so early in the year. In later years, this has changed to give housewives a rest during the New Year holidays since they worked so hard until New Year’s…