Tea Ceremony at the Kindergarten

Today I went to the local kindergarten/daycare centre that Conan will attend starting next month. Today is March 3rd, a day in which many Japanese celebrate the annual "Dolls Festival" (Hina Matsuri in Japanese), otherwise known as "Girls Day." Families (and some schools) put up displays of Japanese porcelain dolls in their homes. "Boys Day" comes later in May, when families put up carp streamers on flag poles to celebrate. You might remember we posted a blog entry about Conan's new carp streamers given to him by friends of ours last year.

Today, to celebrate at the school, we had a tea ceremony, with the older girls (the four and five year-olds) getting to participate by helping to serve the tea. The girls wore colourful "yukata" which are simple, summer-style robes, while some of the regular staff as well as Stephanie Craft, a fellow teacher/volunteer at the kindergarden wore full kimono. For those who don't know, Stephanie has been living in Sumita the past three years with her husband, Gabe who teaches at our local high school. They have been wonderful friends for us who are always willing to help out in the community or to babysit for Conan when we need a few hours off. :)

Here are a few pictures of everyone enjoying the ceremony.

Drinking up their "matcha" (whipped, powdered green tea)

Enjoying some Japanese sweets

Waiting to serve the next group of "guests"