To celebrate the new year the villagers get together to pound mochi - rice smashed with a heavy hammer until it forms a smooth paste. It's very yummy! You don't actually get to watch the villagers smash the rice to make mochi, but you do get a sample of it to take home. Talk to Thomas from the other side of the table to get your mochi. He doesn't just give you one though! Any empty slot in your backpack gets filled with delicious pieces of mochi.