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Winter Kanzashi
The Winter
season will often see the following traditional motifs, symbols, and designs in
placed within their structure or as the basis of their work such as: a
plum-bamboo-pine combo, Plum, Camelia, Snow covered bamboo, Snow covered pine,
Snow, Snowflakes, Bare trees, and Bare branches. Please look below for more
information regarding what is typically worn during each month or special
events.
* Kanzashi Images Still To Be Added.
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December
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The beginning of Winter has some special December kanzashi that feature Maneki
Tags (tiny blank scrolls), Rice Cakes, and Mochibana (ricecake flowers). Maneki tag kanzashi are little scrolls, often mixed in with other winter
symbols. These are used traditionally by maiko when they visit the Minamiza
Theatre and ask two of their favorite
Kabuki actors to
autograph them with their signatures.
During this time of year the Japanese also
make
mochi, a type of
baked rice cake treat that are often placed to adorn trees to be a symbol of
little white flowers as it is thought to bring good luck to do so or wear
kanzashi featuring them.
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New
Year
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Kanzashi during this short but prominent time in Japanese culture feature
Unhusked Rice and Dove motifs as a wish for a better and prosperous year. Maiko
and geisha are those who are often spotted wearing unhusked rice ears on the
right side of their elaborate New Year's hairstyle.
Often these are accompanied by little
eyeless white doves - as a tradition the maiko and geisha fill in one eye of the
little doves and then ask somebody they are close to, to draw on the other.
Other festive, but winter themed kanzashi are also used.
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Trio of Auspicious
Colorings Kanzashi
photographer:
ChissPrincess |
January
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Winter brings with it many interesting kanzashi so that you will often see
motifs of Ume, Bamboo and Pine, Spinning Wheel, Battledore, and some kanzashi
that are still carried over from New Year themes. Kanzashi during this time
usually have an auspicious
Japanese New Year
theme, but the design of choice differs from year to year.
One of the most
popular choices is Shouchikubai, a combination of pine (matsu),
bamboo (take) and
ume blossom.
The colors used are often green, red, and white as these colors in Japan are
usually associated with celebrations and big events.
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Ume (Plum Blossom) Kanzashi
artist/photographer:
amaebi79 |
February
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As winter begins to leave in anticipation of Spring, this month has kanzashi
that feature Plum Blossoms and Daffodils. Another less common theme is the
kusudama.
The plum blossom motif is usually formed to look like the trailing
deep pink or sometimes red
ume blossoms
that are beginning to bud and open in Japan at this time. You will often see
full on blooms in white as well.
It is believed that the plum blossom
symbolizes young love and the approach of spring. Daffodils are to represent the
near coming of Spring.
Read the
February Feature
article to learn more detailed information.
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<< Back to Seasonal Hana Kanzashi Page
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