photo: Gorazd Vilhar
Traditionally, the first of the official Sekku of the New Year is Nanakusa-no-Sekku, the Feast of Seven Grasses. On this day, traditionally, a hot rice porridge is prepared including seven types of fresh green herbs (nana-kusa), including daikon radish and turnip greens, chickweed, and other wild greens thought to be good for health. Held primarily as a private family occasion in Japan, this observance is part of the extended celebration of O-Shogatsu, the Japanese New Year.Of the five festivals, O-Shogatsu was by far the most importantÑa day when families throughout the country return to their hometowns to greet the New Year together with hope for a new beginning to the next chapter in the cycle of life.
Our Five Festival Celebrations
The cycle of life from birth to death is reflected in the quiet passage of a year in the Garden. Out of the cold, barren days of winter, the first buds appear on the plum and reassure us that spring will come again.
Blessed with a climate much like that of central Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden enjoys the same dramatic changes of the seasons, and we celebrate them with a series of five traditional festivals which have been observed in Japan since at least the 6th century.
Marking the changes in weather that accompany each passing cycle of the moon, the five festivals (Go-Sekku) were celebrated by farmers who sought the help of the kami, or gods, on these occasions to move the cycle of life forward and bring their crops to harvest successfully. Reflecting even older traditions that began in ancient China, the Sekku were celebrated on propitious, powerful dates: 1/7, 3/3, 5/5, 7/7, and 9/9.
At the Portland Japanese Garden, we celebrate the Sekku throughout the year as important family days, held on these Sundays nearest to the traditional dates:
* tentative date
- O-Shogatsu, New Year's celebration: January 10, 2010
- Hina Matsuri, the Doll Festival: February 26 Ð March 3, 2010
- Kodomo no Hi, Children's Day: May 2, 2009
- Tanabata, the Star Festival: July 11, 2010
- Kiku Matsuri, the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival: Oct 17*, 2010
Additionally, we observe these important cultural traditions:
- Hana Matsuri, the Flower Festival, in spring
- O-Bon, the Spirit Festival, in late summer
- O-Tsukimi, Moonviewing, in autumn
For event reservations, please call (503) 542-0280.
For more great background information on the five festivals, please enjoy this Japanese Culture article by Curator of Culture, Arts, and Education, Diane Durston:
