holiday

Holiday Gift Giving Ideas

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The holidays are about enjoying the fun and festivities with family and friends, not long shopping lines and short tempers. So to help our patrons get the most out of their holiday experience, we’ve put together a few gift giving ideas to help lighten your burden during this season of giving. The Green Thumbs Winter in South Florida? Let’s face it, you’re more likely to see an alligator climbing a fence than snow fall on the peninsula. And with nearly year-round perfect weather, there’s bound to be someone on your …

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5 Morikami Holiday Experiences for the Person Who Has Everything 

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We all know that person. She has everything already. He’s so hard to shop for. But… they like to do things, go places and feel good supporting the arts. You’re in luck because we have just what you need to make them happy this holiday season. Here are 5 gift ideas for the person who just likes to have fun! [twocol_one]Dance with a lion at Oshogatsu. On Sunday, January 7, we will usher in 2018 with our Oshogatsu festival. Buy your special person a day filled with rice pounding, lion dancing, tea …

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Add Some Artistry to Your Holidays – Japanese Gift Wrap

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Japan is famous for its culture of craftsmanship, and one of its most important crafts is paper. So it’s no surprise that the intersection of Japan’s rich culture of gift giving and its love and reverence for paper would be intricate and beautiful gift wrapping. The art of gift wrap, or tsutsumu, is an important part of any exchange of gifts. The paper you choose, the contrast of colors and textures, the ribbon, string or bows you add, and the folds, pleats and designs you create with the wrapping let the …

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Japanese Children’s Day = Mother’s Day?

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNeLgJePx2w] by Reiko Nishioka, Director of Education When you are young, you don’t pay attention to the meaning of holidays; you are just happy to have the day off from school. On May 5th, the Japanese celebrate a national holiday called Children’s Day.  I do not remember what we did for the celebration because May 5th is Tango no settku translated as Boy’s Day.  If you are in Japan, you will see colorful koinobori (carp kites) hoisted outdoors of the homes of families who have male children. I have …

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Setsubun: The End of Winter

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by: Reiko Nishioka, Director of Education On February 3rd or 4th (depending on the year), the Japanese celebrate setsubun, the end of winter, with a ritual known in English as the “Bean-Throwing Ceremony.” “Bean-Throwing Ceremony” sounds comical and childish, however, the setsubun ritual has a long history. The first recorded setsubun ritual was in A.D. 706, more than a thousand years later year, Hokusai (Ukiyo-e artist 1760-1849) illustrated a man throwing beans at a demon. What does setsubun mean?  (setsu) and (bun) means division and setsubun means “division of seasons.” …

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