MATCHA at NOON with the new year celebration wa-sun-bon on Yagasuri Yomogi cotton placemat

For the new year celebration, the dry confectionery wa-sun-bon was shaped in auspicious symbols.

Sho-chiku-bai, which means pine-bamboo-plum in Japanese. A set of those three is one of the most popular symbol for celebration. On my dish, though, from the left hand side, it is placed pine-plum-bamboo…

Then the pentagon piece placed next to sho-chiku-bai is shaped in “Ema“. At the shrine people wirte down their wishes on a Ema, the wood piece with a string, and leave it there, praying Shinto God for taking care of the matter in a good way. The letter molded on the Ema is “sheep”. On 12-year Chinese zodiac, which is also used here in Japan, 2015 is the year of sheep. Beginning with a mouse, bull, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, boar are on one cycle.

The two on the right are also one of the most popular pair of auspicious symbol – trtule and crane. They are symbol of longevity. Somehow, it is said that crane live up to 1,000 years, turtle live up to 10,000 years.

Not only on the new year celebration, but also on the other occasions, those symbolic motif were design to wish happiness.

Anyway, may lots of happiness come to you in this new year!

Yagasuri Yomogi cotton placemat is available on my shop.
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