After gobbling up the chimaki, there's a certain way to fold up the leaves and twine (to make it easier for the host to clear away).
#GoldenWeek #Kyoto #京都 #Japan #和菓子 #wagashi #chimaki #ちまき #teaceremony
Symbolising determination, the carp motif was based on the Chinese legend of a carp that swam upstream to become a dragon.
The black carp nowadays represents the father, red the mother, and blue the children (originally the eldest son was blue, each new son a different colour).
Illustration of carp streamers.
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Illustration of carp streamers flying outside a traditional home.
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of a mother carrying her son (who is holding on to a carp streamer).
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of carp streamers.
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Stores began preserving leaves for the following year's kashiwa mochi (柏餅). Steamed, the leaves could be kept a long time, but their colour faded to a tea-ish brown.
Nowadays you will see both colours in stores as new technology allows for the green colour to be preserved💚🙌
Kashiwa mochi.
A peek at the rice cake kept within the kashiwa ('oak') leaf.
Kashiwa mochi.
Kashiwa mochi...you can see the leaves are different colours. Until recently it was very difficult to preserve and keep the leaves fresh green, so a muddier green/brown was more common.
Until 1948 "Kodomo-no-hi" was known as "Boys' Day" (aka the "Feast of Banners"), following on from the celebration of girls at "Hina Matsuri" (雛祭り) on March 3rd.
At this time of year it's common to see koinobori (鯉のぼり), decorative carp windsocks, hung outside homes.
#京都
A unusual koinobori featuring a kappa riding a black carp.
Miniature koinobori for our doll's set.
A sea of koinobori (carp streamers).
Blue koinobori inspired sweet.
It's always great fun digging out the chubby (unamused) baby warrior and his tiny treasures for Kodomo-no-hi (こどもの日)🎏
#こどもの日 #childrensday #Kyoto #京都 #goldenweek #Japan #doll #chubbywarrior
Children's Day decorations in the teahouse sofa room.
Unpacking our doll baby samurai for Children's Day.
Unpacking our doll baby samurai for Children's Day.
Nao-san unpacks the Children's Day decorations.
Kameya Shigehisa's (亀屋重久) owner and master confectioner kindly demonstrates how each chimaki is prepared.
The store is located across the road from Myōshin-ji's (妙心寺) north gate.
➡️https://www.kameya-shigehisa.com/
⚔️
Iris leaves, thanks to their shape, have long been associated with swords...both protecting against & cutting through misfortune.
The word for iris, 'shōbu' (菖蒲), is also a homonym for 'warlike spirit' (尚武), and from Kamakura times the flowers came to symbolise the warrior.
Around May 5th people bath in water strewn with iris leaves. It was believed this offered protection from ill health and bad luck.
Part of our Children's Day set features tiny bundles of iris leaves.
Miniature armor for our samurai doll.
Iris leaves illuminated by the sun at Ota Pond.
Kameya Shigehisa's (亀屋重久) owner and master confectioner kindly demonstrates how each chimaki is prepared.
The store is located across the road from Myōshin-ji's (妙心寺) north gate.
➡️https://www.kameya-shigehisa.com/
🎏CHILDREN'S DAY👶
Arriving at the end of Golden Week, 'Kodomo-no-hi' (こどもの日 "Children's Day") celebrates the happiness of children and families.
In the weeks leading up to May 5th many homes display dolls and armor (or helmets), symbolizing vitality and strength.
#こどもの日 #ChildrensDay
Tiny sugar koinobori for Children's Day tea time.
Nao-san's obi has a stylized armor design, a nod to Children's Day.
Tiny red and blue koinobori hung up for our samurai baby doll.
Our small samurai baby, ready to decorate the sofa room for Children's Day.
There are two sweets, both wrapped in leaves, that are absolutely essential for "Children's Day": kashiwa mochi (かしわ餅/柏餅) and chimaki (ちまき/粽).
🎏=🐟➡️🌊✨🐉☁️
Kashiwa mochi, a rice cake wrapped in an 'oak' leaf, is popularly eaten around Children's Day.
Enjoying matcha and a chimaki before our small Children's Day display.
Koinobori 'swimming' in the wind.
Conical shaped chimaki, a sweet typically eaten for Children's Day.