Dec 29, 2010

Hatsugama

December is also called the month of teachers running.  There are the year end preparations for Joyagama, the last tea gathering of the year as well as time to plan one of the biggest tea celebrations of the year, Hatsugama or New Year's tea gathering.

When I lived in Kyoto, I could not afford to return home for the Christmas and New Year's holidays, so I was invited to participate with the Urasenke Sen Family in Joyagama on New Year's eve.   It was a small gathering with just the family, and a few friends. We all fit into the Mushikiken tea room and Hounsai Daisosho himself served us hot water and made tea for us.  It was intimate and very special.

We will have Hatsugama this year on Sunday, January 9.  It is the year of the rabbit, and the chokudai, or poetic theme is "leaves".  

I wish all of you a Happy New Year, and thank you for reading.

4 comments:

  1. Happy new year to you also. Let's share tea sometime. Send me an email.

    Margie

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  2. Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai!

    Domo arigato gozaimasu for sharing your interesting insights with us.

    I am a student with the Omotesenke School and am looking forward to participate in my first Hatsugama celebration at the end of January 2011.

    Ichi go, ichi e.

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  3. flightofantasy,
    Thank you for your comment. Enjoy you first experience of Hatsugama this year. Please come back and tell us about your experience. We'd love to hear about it.

    Margie

    ReplyDelete