Monday, December 29, 2008

Happy New Year 2009!

Although it's been a tough year for us all, I've much to be thankful for. The Japanese crane symbolizes, luck, longevity, and fidelity. Photo in my header was taken at a close family friend's wedding. They are also half Japanese in nationality.

I thought the cake idea was so beautiful, and is a very popular tradition in Japanese wedding ceremonies. The bride and groom make 1000 paper origami birds to exercise patience and endurance in Japanese married life. They are sometimes hung and strung as decoration. The crane is believed to live 1000 years.

My own Japanese mother told me a story of long ago. My mother and her sisters made 1000 origami birds for her dying mother in hopes of her recovery. Her mother died when she was only 8 years old. I've often taken a paper origami to place on the hospital stand, of ill close friends and family. I have a gold origami my mother made me sitting right here at my desk!

This will be my last post of the year! My best friend is up from Tampa, her Pitbull mix puppy is still missing! I'm hoping to spend some girl time with her tomorrow. I caught another horrible cold and I'm trying to pamper myself. Not sure of our plans for New Year's eve, depends on how I feel!

Here's to a better, brighter New Year for us all!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jo,

I knew how to fold origami birds in paper also..We believed origami birds will make people wish come true as well..

Happy 2009 year..may all your wishes came true..

Take care

Jo Janoski said...

Happy New Year! The origami birds are beautiful!

Dan said...

What a neat tradition and as Jo says they are beautiful!

ochikeron said...

Happy New Year jo,

I remember these origami birds! Beautiful!!! I wonder how they are made. Thanks for posting ;)

You know what?! I was sleeping today, all day long.

How is your cold? I hope you are doing fine.

Best wishes for your 2009!!!

Maggie said...

The cranes are lovely!

Happy 2009 to you, dear Jo!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Hi Jose,

My mom did tell me about the wishes come true too!

May all your wishes come true also,
Happy New Year!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Thank you! Happy New Year to you Jo, so glad I met you! You always bring me smiles!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Thank you Dan,

I've always been very proud of my mother's traditions. She was a free spirit, and pretty much left her culture behind and embraced American culture! But she always did everything with maticulous perfection, a major part of her upbringing! Happy New Year, always a pleasure to read you!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Konnichiwa Ochi,

Happy New Year, I think they are made from some kind of plastic, or glass! I didn't think to ask her where she got them. I never saw them anywhere! I thought they were so pretty.

Good for you, getting rest! I know that is what I should do! My cold is better, but hanging on! I hate starting the New Year sick, I was sick last year too!

Jo A. T.B. said...

Thank you Maggie,

I thought the cranes were appropriate for the New Year! Maybe it'll bring us all luck! Happy New Year to you Poet friend!

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