a year of cultural festivals

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A YEAR OF CULTURAL FESTIVALS
Throughout the year the Portland Japanese Garden celebrates several traditional Japanese cultural festivals. These annual events mark the passage
of the time, while also strengthening the Garden’s connections to Japan. Visitors can have an authentic cultural experience that opens doors to
greater understanding and friendship between the U.S. and Japan. Due to the closure period for the Cultural Crossing construction, this year’s annual
celebrations begin with Kodomo no Hi, in early May.
O-SHOGATSU
HINA MATSURI
KODOMO NO HI
TANABATA
KIKU MATSURI
O-Shogatsu is the celebration of Japanese New
Year. This joyous festival takes place on January
1. Look for traditional O-Shogatsu decorations
like Kadomatsu (pictured), while enjoying live
traditional music, food, drinks, and sweets.
In early March, Japanese families show their
pride in their daughters with Hina Matsuri, the
Doll Festival. A favorite event of our younger
visitors, the Portland Japanese Garden’s Hina
Matsuri celebration includes a seven-tier display
of ornamental dolls and invites children to dress
up in traditional cotton yukata and take photos.
Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day, is in early May
and will be the first festival celebrated at the
Portland Japanese Garden in 2016. Children’s
Day is a family-friendly celebration, complete
with koi shaped kites, origami helmets, taiko
drumming, and more. A ‘can’t miss’ for Garden
lovers with small children.
An ancient Japanese story tells of two
star-crossed lovers who walk along the bridge
of the Milky Way and only meet once a year.
The Portland Japanese Garden celebrates
Tanabata, or the Star Festival, in mid-July by
inviting visitors to write special wishes on paper
and hang them on the limbs of bamboo trees.
In the Japanese tradition, the chrysanthemum
is a symbol of longevity, dignity, and nobility.
It’s the national flower of Japan, and in midSeptember, the Portland Japanese Garden
displays beautiful arrangements of this delicate
yet hardy flower for the Chrysanthemum Festival.