Japanese Family Farmhouse & Kitchen exhibit ongoing to January 9, 2022 at Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive

AKE-MASHITE-OMEDETOU-GOZAIMASU! (HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

“Shogatsu is a three day New Year celebration in Japan. Though most families get together on December 31^st for New Years Eve, Shogatsu actually begins with the most important national holiday in Japan, Gantan (New Year’s Day) January 1^st. The Japanese greeting “ake-mashite-omedetou-gozaimasu” is expressed to everyone you see the first time in the New Year.”

Holiday decorations are placed in and around the house beginning December 30^th. Shimekazari is a traditional ornament hung over the front of the house to ward off evil spirits and welcome good luck. You will see bamboo and pine decorations tied with straw rope called kadomatsu at both sides of the entrance of houses set up to summon the New Year god Toshigami. It is believed that the god will bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year. The materials are symbolic- bamboo symbolizes strength and pine longevity. These decorations can be seen on the Japanese Family Farmhouse.

A special decoration called Kagami mochi is set out as an offering to Toshigami in the Japanese Kitchen. The decoration consists of two round mochi rice cakes of different size stacked (the smaller on top of the larger one) topped with a dadai (Japanese bitter orange). The Kagami mochi also symbolizes the continuity of the family; the mochi symbolize the past year and the year ahead and the dadai represents long life and the continuity of generations.

It is also a tradition to give children money during the Shogatsu holiday. Adults prepare small envelopes of money for the children called otoshidama. Look on the counter in the Japanese Kitchen for otoshidama. There is a custom of visiting a shrine or temple during the New Year’s holiday to pray for safety, health and good fortune.”

https://theminitimemachine.org/exhibitions/japanese-family-farmhouse-and-japanese-kitchen-shogatsu/

This is a free concert, but donations are accepted. Social distancing and face maks will be required due to the ongoing pandemic.

https://tucsonrepertoryorchestra.org/

TEA CEREMONY

A Demonstration

Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm

The Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu (translated literally as “hot water for tea”), is a cherished ritual involving the preparation and presentation of powdered green tea in a highly stylized manner.

A host and a guest, wearing traditional Japanese kimono specific to the ceremony, will demonstrate how tea has been prepared, served, and enjoyed in Japan since the 12th century.

We advise that tea won’t be served to our audience due to Covid-19 restrictions.

General admission: $20 per person (includes Gardens admission).

Member admission: $5

Advanced ticket reservation is required.

This is a limited admission event to guarantee social distancing to our guests.

For tickets:
Buy tickets for Tea Ceremony at Yume Japanese Gardens at Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, Multiple dates and times (tickettailor.com)