Yesterday I learned that it is an old Japanese custom to eat kabocha squash and take what is known as a yuzu-buro on the winter solstice.

Yuzu is a small, incredibly aromatic citrus fruit that is grown throughout Asia and is commonly used to season food, teas, and juices in Japan. In addition, it is also used to make a homeopathic bath that has a variety of health benefits, from improving circulation to improving your complexion and warming your body. As the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, and a cold one as well, it is this last benefit that is particularly sought after through this old custom.

In Japan, many of the New Year's preparations are based on the idea of cleaning yourself, your house, and your personal affairs before the end of the year so that you can begin the new year with a clean slate. In addition to warding off colds and warming one's body, it is also said that taking a yuzu bath will wash away the bad deeds one has done throughout the year. In this way, the yuzu-buro is also seen by some as a traditional New Year's preparation.