Public Speaking class

I have a Public Speaking Class at KGU. Yesterday I did a speech at class. We have to make a speech twice while a fall semester. Then I made it. My subject was " Japanese New Year ". I explained Toshikoshi-soba, New Years Eve Bells and Osechi-dishes. That reason I chose this topic was that a foreigner ask to me about these meaning, but I did not answer all. We had Toshikoshi-soba on New Year's Eve's night. We make it to make longer and thinly, so it means long-life.We had to eat it before New Year, if we have it across New Year, it was bad luck.
We hear New Year's Eve bells on New Year's Eve night. This is called Jyoya-no-kane. It means that we ring out it between New Year's Eve and New Year. They say that reason we ring out New Year's Eve bell is that we expel our earthly desire. Buddhism said we have 108 earthly desire. Then New Year's Eve bells were rung out 108 times to expel our earthly desire.
Earthly desire means our hearts that it mislead our feeling or be worried or be suffered. For example: desire, anger, attachment and covetousness etc.

Osechi-Ryouri

Traditional Japanese food during the New Years, Osechi-dishes have many food in the box, then these foods means gook luck and desire.
For example:
① Shrimp: You know Shrimp’s back is bent. Then shrimp is the symbol of the long-life. They desired long-life as long as their back is bent like shrimp.
② Herring roe ( 数の子 ): Herring roe means many children and posterity thrive.
③ A sweetened mixture of boiled and mashed chestnuts( 栗きんとん ): It means lucky with money and posterity thrive.
④ Black soybean ( 黒豆 ): It’s color is black, so it means that we get sunburnt and work hard.
⑤ Red and white kamaboko: It is symbol of celebration.
⑥ Kelp roll ( 昆布巻き ): It means happiness of family and many children and posterity thrive.
⑦ Taro ( 里芋): Taro have many daughter taro in the ground, then this is the symbol of many child.
⑧ Datemaki( 伊達巻き): It means desire of prosperity.
⑨ Lotus( れんこん): There are holes on the lotus, so they desired they could see their future.

I made a this speech. ( 403 words )