Happy New Year! The first 3 days in the New Year are quite important in Japanese Culture. As I was raised surrounded by some “old-fashioned” artisans, I still carry some rituals. For example, it was not recommended to “stitch” until the end of Jan.3rd. Some even “prohibited” it. Instead, they spend time with “family” (which are both the ones alive & the ones passed away) – I imagine, they sit on patchworked rags like this to protect them from cold, and cover themselves with something “nicer” as a blanket. I value “Imagination” very much, and Sashiko is a good way to “imagine (remember)” it – rather than being creative/artistic, for me.
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If you have Japanese in your family or friends, you probably have seen photos of “Osechi” by now. It is like a Bento box with many kinds of foods with layered boxes. We celebrate New Years with Osechi while eating them with family/friends. However, the whole purpose is NOT to offer fancy food – they are the food that “lasts long” for more than 3 days so that they don’t have to cook/clean after the meals. For Japanese, the first 3 days of New Year are days to invite “spirit(s)” in. Using water, cleaning, and many other practices weren’t recommended to respect the spirit’s existence. The Osechi was developed in this story & many other stories in different regions. “Eating Osechi” itself will be a good cultural practice – but knowing stories, learning “why” makes it more meaningful. Here, I share the stories. All of the elements of Sashiko have their stories – and that makes “it” Sashiko – not only pattern, not only technique, and not “who” stitch.
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仏壇と神棚がある家で育ったので、今のように仏壇も神棚もない家というのは少し不思議です。諸々経験＆勉強して、仏壇や神棚がなくても御参りはできると信じて、今は「想像力」で新年を迎えています。まぁ将来的に日本に帰れば仏壇も神棚もある家に住みたいですが、大きな流れで言うと、ユダヤ人の女性と結婚した段階で、家系そのものはユダヤと見做されるので、流れに任せようとは思っています。
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想像力。刺し子をする上で一番と言ってもいい大切なテーマとして、今年も沢山の刺し子とお話ができればいいなと思っています。継ぎ接ぎの布の上に座り、少しでも綺麗な布を膝にかける。こんな昔の風景 – あったんじゃないかなぁと想像しながら。本年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします！
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