The Japanese tradition never cease to amaze me... In my health studies, I encountered large body of research documenting the effect of family bonding that protected the Japanese who migrated to the States from the cardiovascular and chronic diseases rampant in the society around them. It wasn't the soy or sushi as it was suggested as much as it was the love and and affection of an intimate social fabric...
Recently, I ran across another amazing Japanese tradition, a Japanese festival 'Hari-Kuyo', a special annual event where women "pay tribute to the old and broken needles". As an avid art quilter, this event made me pause and wonder in awe... How many needles, pins and blunt scissors do we simply toss away without a second thought? Those women dedicate a festival in honor of the hard work of those mundane sewing supplies!
Audrey Yang tells the story in her book 'Hari-Kuyo: Festival of the broken needles'... Women, traditionally dressed, gather on this special day to put to rest their used and broken needles. The needles are stuck in a block of tofu, the soft texture of which aims at soothing the wear-out blunt tips after a year-long hard work and labor, wrapping them with a fragile touch of compassionate care.
With this amazing consideration they show to their needles, the women express their gratitude while praying for a coming year full of improved skills.
As I read about the festival, I couldn't help but wonder about the homage we pay to our everyday blessings... About the gratitude we feel in our hearts for the objects -and even people- in our lives,,, In this fast paced busy life we are leading, it is easy to get mindlessly caught in the beat. This festival is a way to remember... As the ladies pay attribute, honor and respect their seemingly useless and feeling-less broken needles, I am sure they will never forget to pay attribute, honor and appreciate every one and everything else in their lives.
Recently, I ran across another amazing Japanese tradition, a Japanese festival 'Hari-Kuyo', a special annual event where women "pay tribute to the old and broken needles". As an avid art quilter, this event made me pause and wonder in awe... How many needles, pins and blunt scissors do we simply toss away without a second thought? Those women dedicate a festival in honor of the hard work of those mundane sewing supplies!
Audrey Yang tells the story in her book 'Hari-Kuyo: Festival of the broken needles'... Women, traditionally dressed, gather on this special day to put to rest their used and broken needles. The needles are stuck in a block of tofu, the soft texture of which aims at soothing the wear-out blunt tips after a year-long hard work and labor, wrapping them with a fragile touch of compassionate care.
With this amazing consideration they show to their needles, the women express their gratitude while praying for a coming year full of improved skills.
As I read about the festival, I couldn't help but wonder about the homage we pay to our everyday blessings... About the gratitude we feel in our hearts for the objects -and even people- in our lives,,, In this fast paced busy life we are leading, it is easy to get mindlessly caught in the beat. This festival is a way to remember... As the ladies pay attribute, honor and respect their seemingly useless and feeling-less broken needles, I am sure they will never forget to pay attribute, honor and appreciate every one and everything else in their lives.