Camellias Festival 2017 - Tsubaki Matsuri 2017 (English post)

As already know from my previous post, also this year, we were guests of the Camellias Festival (Tsubaki Matsuri) in Sant'Andrea di Compito (LU) to make  chanoyu demonstrations, open to the public, in the wonderful frame of the floral park of Villa Orsi.

We did three demonstrations for day for two Saturdays in consecutive weeks; the first Saturday we simply arranged with a pedestal tatami and a furo. Guests sat around on simple benches equipped with tables and the set was decorated with a classic Japanese umbrella. The last Saturdays, however, we managed to set up a "treppiedi" stand of bamboo from which to tilt the chains that would support the kama, according to the classic outdoor setting, and then we have done our demonstration in the "winter brazier version ".

They were attended by many guests, both times, of all nationalities, and for us this has been a source of great pride. I leave you now with some photos.

March: Hinamatsuri month! (English post)

In Japan, tea ceremony is very tied to seasons and seasonal festivals and, when you think of a seasonal festival in early March, obviously, you'll think to Hinamatsuri or Dolls Festival Festival, also known as Girl's Festival.

This celebration, which in Japanese is said 雛 祭 り, is the third day of the third month (that is March 3) and sees in their homes, the collections of the dolls of the family put on a display lined in red fabric. These pedestals made in "steps", can also be very large.

The dolls usually represent the Emperor and Empress, and many of their servants and their court, and are dressed in the style of Heian.

This festival is also called Girls Festival because when a child is born, into a family, parents buy  dolls (and often do it also friends and family) and, every year, during this festival, the whole family prays that the bad luck  fall on dolls rather than on girls.

In March, Chanoyu uses objects, paintings and sweet with the typical designs of dolls of this Feast.

I decided to pay homage to this tradition using my cup with hina drawing depicting dolls dressed up in a tangle of branches with leaves and spring blooms. It 'a cheerful and festive chawan I love very much.