After the purification ritual, light the lamp.
After the purification ritual, light the lamp.
— New Year's Eve, preparations to welcome the New Year's deity —
The end of the year, New Year's Eve.
On this day, we don't just "celebrate the new year,"
Preparations are made to welcome the New Year deity.
Brush off the soot, prepare your tools, and clear your mind.
It is a silent ritual to welcome the invisible guests.
Gently placing our hands on the things that have been with us in our daily lives,
We stand between "purification" and "welcoming."
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Purification is not about forgetting, but about letting go with gratitude.
Big cleaning.
There is a deeper meaning behind this phrase.
Dusting is not just cleaning.
It is the "atmosphere" and "feelings" that have accumulated in the course of daily activities.
Just let it go quietly for once.
For example, the dish towel you pick up every morning.
The handle of a sliding door that has been opened and closed many times.
The light by the window changes with the seasons.
The small memories that reside in them,
Wipe each area gently.
That is what WABISUKE means by "purification."
The act of wiping off soot involves
"Clear away what has accumulated and welcome new light"
This prayer is contained within.
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Gently opening the way for the New Year deity
In the past, people believed that the "Toshigamisama" (God of the New Year) would come down from the mountains at New Year's.
This god is said to bestow life and good fortune on households in the new year.
That is why we purify our homes and prepare them so that the gods can stay comfortably.
The kadomatsu is a landmark to help the gods find their way without getting lost.
Shimenawa is a barrier that separates the sacred space from the secular world.
Kagami mochi is a place where gods reside.
Decorating them carefully is
It is also a way of speaking to God, saying, "Please come this way."
At WABISUKE, as the end of the year approaches,
We are starting to gradually set up the storefront.
The fabric is replaced, the lights are polished, and tranquility is restored to the space.
It is for God's sake,
It's also a preparation for everyone who visits this place.
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Lighting the Light
As the night deepens and the New Year's Eve bells begin to ring.
We light one lamp.
It is gratitude for the days that have passed,
It is also a prayer for the days to come.
Toshigamisama is a being who brings omens of the future.
To welcome that god is
It may mean "welcoming hope."
The WABISUKE building is also
Over the past year, I have felt the presence of many different people.
Laughter, sighs, the sound of rain, the smell of the wind.
These accumulate little by little, and the space becomes inhabited by "memories."
On New Year's Eve, I gently caress those memories.
A day to create space for the light of the new year to shine through.
To light a lamp is
I think it's about adding warmth to that space.
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Between purification and welcoming
New Year's Eve is a day
It is a special time when the end and the beginning overlap.
It's the day to let go of the past,
It is also a day to welcome the future.
But we are in no hurry to do either of these things.
Just be quiet and in the moment.
While brushing off the soot,
"Thank you," I mutter.
With the lights on,
"Welcome," I muttered to myself.
It is in that space that
Time may be passing in WABISUKE.
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WABISUKE's New Year's Eve
This place is also
Quietly but surely, they are preparing to welcome the New Year's deity.
The cloth is prepared, the tools are polished, and the light is softly lit.
With thanks to everyone who visited us this year,
Gently open up the "blank space" for the new year.
Toshigamisama and everyone,
I hope you will stop by this place.
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Closing remarks
Please, to everyone,
May the gentle breeze and warm light reach you.
Happy New Year.
WABISUKE