菊：Kiku is chrysanthemum in English and 祭り：matsuri , festival. In Japan during a week of fall, there are many Kiku matsuri many places. Festival doesn’t mean festival , drinking , dancing, eating delicious food in this case. Japanese names some events 〇〇〇festival.
Main purpose of kiku matsuri in Japan is to enjoy viewing chrysanthemum beautifully bloomed and chrysanthemum lovers compete their mums in beauty , color, shape and size. First prize, second, special prize… There are no special food for Kikumatsuri or ceremony like the other traditional Japanese events.
Kiku( Chrysanhemum) is as precious as cherry blossom in spring. There are motifs of mums in design of kimono and emblems. Those days mums were used for the emblems of families but after Meiji area, only Emperor (temno) and royal family can use mums as a family crest. Mums implies nobleness. Its beautiful shape and color and clean scent has been loved.
I will tell you about the history of Kiku matsuri in Japan. The oldest Kiku matsuri in Japan has over 100 year history. It started at a shrine. See you next page.
Here’s a picture of Kikumatsuri in UTD. You can see big Ikebana. like modern art with flowers in the campus. In the building you can see Ikebana arrangements of Chrysanthemums and other materials like drifted woods or colored twigs. Please feel fall to the fullest ,viewing beautiful mum arrangements. I’m sure that you will be motivated to try to your own Ikebana. You can contact Ikebana International which is an organization whoever join if you like Ikebana: the Japanese art of arranging flowers.
Or just contact me! I am the right person for you when you want to try because I am qualified teacher with long experience of Ikebana . With a passion to share in joy of Ikebana. If you are busy person , just right to try Ikebana. My goal in sharing Ikebana is for you to feel serenity, get away from daily fast pace routine to another world. Your Ikebana arrangement will impress not only others but also yourself.
I stopped at Japanese restaurant Masami.So good!!