The word karakusa (カラクサ) actually refers to this pattern, which is sometimes seen on traditional cloth. It's based on the peony flower (ボタン). Here it's used for overly-colorful mochi with anko, sweet bean filling. These were special for the Spring Festival.
Spring Festival as in The First Day of Spring which is a day off in Japan -- well, for schools, anyway, except it's a Monday holiday this year since the equinox fell on a Saturday night and so Sunday was the first day of spring. Don't get me started on the difference between the equinox (when the noon sun is over the Equator) and the equilux, the actual day of equal day and night, which varies a bit according to latitude (I think).
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