Japanese Temari Balls, A New Year’s Tradition
During my holiday shopping, I fell in love with these traditional Japanese ornaments called Temari balls, or “Hime-temari” (silk balls).
Temari balls began hundreds of years ago as a way to use remnants of silk kimono fabric. Mothers and grandmothers would wad up strips of fabric and wrap saved silk threads to form a ball for children to play with. Over time, Temari balls evolved from toys into art. Now, it a Japanese tradition for mothers to make a ball for daughters as a New Year’s gift and hang it over their bed while sleeping so that when they wake up at the beginning of the new year, the daughter will see a bright, beautiful object to bring happiness and good luck.
I found these at the Silk Road, a cute import store at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, UT.
I wish you all happiness and good fortune in 2011!
