お供(そな)え

Refers to items offered to deities, Buddhist figures, or ancestors. The word uses the honorific prefix お and the noun form of 供(そな)える (to offer). After being offered, items are often "taken down" (下(さ)げる) and consumed by the family, which is considered respectful sharing of divine blessings.

Common collocations

• お供(そな)えを上(あ)げる: make an offering
• お供(そな)えを下(さ)げる: take down an offering (to eat it)
• お供(そな)え餅(もち): offering rice cakes (kagami mochi)
• お供(そな)え物(もの): offering items (formal)
• 仏壇(ぶつだん)のお供(そな)え: altar offerings

Cultural note

Common offerings include rice, fruit, sweets, sake, and water. At New Year, stacked round mochi called 鏡餅(かがみもち) are placed as offerings. The act of eating offerings after they have been presented is called お下(さ)がり, and is seen as receiving blessings from the deity or ancestor.