Kakizome: The First Writing of the Year

POUGHKEEPSIE — The Arts Mid-Hudson Folk Arts Program and the Mid-Hudson Japanese Community Association present Kakizome, a Japanese cultural program celebrating the traditional first calligraphy writing of the New Year, on Saturday, Jan. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Arts Mid-Hudson, 696 Dutchess Turnpike (Route 44), Poughkeepsie.
Throughout the world you will find many different ways to start the new year off with hopes for a successful year:
People in the Southern United States eat black eyed peas on Jan. 1 to bring prosperity in the new year.
Romanians throw their spare change into a river for good luck.
In Japanese culture there is kakizome, the ritualized first calligraphy writing of the year.
Kakizome, which translates to "first writing," takes place within the first few days of each new year. Traditionally people would use calligraphy to write poems that expressed their hopes and aspirations for the coming year. The poems were later burned, as if to seal the fate of the hope, a practice reminiscent of blowing out candles on a birthday cake after making a wish.
The kakizome tradition continue with the writing of auspicious kanji (Chinese characters) rather than poems, signifying an idea or sentiment they wish to carry with them into the New Year.
If you hope for good health in the New Year, you would write a kanji for positive health or if you desire more patience, you would practice the kanji for tolerance or acceptance.
Kakizome is about positive wishes for the New Year. By practicing on kanji over and over it helps the writer to focus on their hope for the coming year.
Join us for Kakizome2019 as we practice auspicious kanji to guide us into the New Year with high hopes. Volunteers from the local Japanese community will be on hand, offering guidance for deciding on and writing your chosen kanji. Brushes, paper and ink will be provided.
This popular program is free and open to the public, and is a welcome contrast to the holiday rush. Visitors are welcome to come and go any time between 2 and 4 p.m.
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