Where did the last decade go? As we usher in this new era, there’s a certain comfort in maintaining family traditions year after year.

Yet there’s something to said about breaking free of limited thinking. Who says we can’t do things differently? Life is change.

This will be the first Oshogatsu where we celebrate the day at my aunt’s condo, instead of at my grandmother’s in the same building. About a month ago, there was a reluctance to even consider such an idea – how far we’ve come with this dramatic turnaround.

Before I posted this, I had a look back over previous years and I noticed while there are a few mainstay dishes, I’ve mixed things up. No surprise here as in my family, I’m not known for being conventional. Rigid attitudes have always struck me as going against the whole idea of enjoying time with family and friends.

Interestingly this new decade coincides with the Year of Rat, which is the first animal in the Chinese zodiac and marks the beginning of a new 12-year cycle. The featured element for 2020 is metal, so it’s a metal Rat to be specific. Rats and metal represent money, wealth and surplus.

Our annual feast always includes symbolic dishes. I’ve prepared my celebratory azuki gohan (red rice) but with an eye on attracting more abundance, I’ve included two versions of money bags – boiled vegetable dumplings and fried vegetable gyoza. Asians can be a superstitious bunch so anything that brings luck and fortune is welcomed.

Have an amazing new year. Wishing you all good things for 2020 – health, wealth and happiness.