Today is Hari Kuyo in Japan, the Festival of Broken Needles and the official end of the New Year's celebrations. In a little while I will take my little jar of old needles I have collected all year, wrap them in colorful tissue paper, tie them with a bright ribbon, and carefully wrap the package a second time in aluminum foil before putting them in the trash can. I don't want to put them into tofu and bury them or toss the tofu into the river so the annual trip with the trash man will have to do. I am very grateful to my needles. What would we do without them?
http://www.odditycentral.com/events/hari-kuyo-japans-unique-memorial-service-for-broken-needles.html
Now, let's all pick up our needles and head to Susan's for the official ceremony.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2014/02/harikuyo-2014.html
UPDATE: And don't miss what Vicky has to say about needles....
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/disposing-of-broken-needles-hari-kuyo-style/
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.
2 comments:
I'm so careful with my stitching needles that I can't perform this ceremony every year...maybe only every two years...because they last quite a long time with me. With my sewing machine needles, however, I don't ceremonially toss them away, but reuse them. I like to hammer dull needles into my walls to hang my more lightweight needlework pieces or smaller photo frames. The needles are sturdy and don't make a large hold when removed like hanging nails would.
You are VERY clever to reuse your needles, Wen. I have acid hands so mine don't last a long time but I never thought to reuse them. Recycle, make do or do without!
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