Momijigari, the Maple Hunt

As the autumn chill sets in and the trees start turning their most glorious colors this month, Blue Lotus invites you to celebrate Momijigari with us on the 21st of November!

"Momijigari" literally translates to "maple hunting," and this is precisely what the practice is about: during the peak turning season, Japanese families take a day to hunt around their area for the most brilliant red maples, and picnic underneath them in reverence of nature's beauty.

In the spirit of this, we'll be bringing all the shades of autumn's beauty to the sim and inviting you on a hunt for these beautiful maples! The event will begin at our brand new entertainment complex on the corner of the sim. There will be prizes given to the best hunters, and afterwards we invite you to join us in our brand new entertainment complex for refreshments and a movie.

We hope to see you there! Ookini!

Saturday, November 21st
11am - 1pm SLT
Begins at the brand new entertainment complex of Blue Lotus

November: month of maple

We are very sorry for our two months long absence in our blog. Though our calendar has always been up-to-date, our posting activity was not.

urayamashi
utsukushuu natte
chiru momiji

How enviable,
turning beautiful then falling
maple leaves

(Shiko)


November is the month of maple: of kaede, turning maple leaves, and momiji, red maple leaves, and is accordingly celebrated with momijigari, the chase and view of autumn trees, in midmonth. The maple in autumn is the equivalent of the cherry blossom in spring and it represents a delicate short-lived beauty which is followed by the first snowflakes of winter.

Another festival in November is shichi-go-san (literally "seven-five-three") which is celebrated on November 15th. It's a festival for children of these ages as they mark important events in a child’s life: when they are three three boys and girls are allowed to let their hair grow for the first time, at the age of five a young boy celebrates wearing his first hakama (a pleated skirt originally worn by men only) and at the age of seven a young girl wearing her first obi. The children visit a shrine with their parents who express their gratitude for their hitherto luck and to ask for their children's future health and safety.

The Blue Lotus celebrates this beautiful autumn month with momijigari on November 21st to which you are warmly invited!