Today was A's Grandmother's Kajimaya Celebration! This year, she turns 97 years old!!!!! In Okinawa, when you turn 97 there is a big ol' celebration held in your honor. It is common during this celebration for the honoree to ride around their neighbourhood in an open car holding colourful pinwheels. It is believed that when a person turns 97 they once again, begin to have the heart of a child. Therefore, the Pinwheel is a symbol of the regaining of one's childhood. A's grandmother is currently in a Nursing Home and not well enough to be riding around in an open car, plus the rain this weekend has been incredible as another Typhoon is approaching Okinawa. So here is a picture of me rocking out with a pinwheel! Keeping it real and Genki.
In this pic, yes, I am wearing a hoodie. It's not actually cold though I just have the A/C on sucking the humidity out of my apato. Yes, I am using a fancy "Photo Book" background...the clouds in Okinawa have been dark and wet for the past 2 weeks.....
Check out this website about Celebrations and old age http://www.okinawateacompany.com/html/t-wisdom.php
I keep wanting to add random bits of info to this post. I watched this documentary on the National Film Board of Canada's website about a Canadian woman who is 105. It was very cute. Check it out if you want. This website is cool because you can watch all kinds of Canadian Films free of charge! http://nfb.ca/film/sunday_at_105/
Sooo...in Okinawa, when one reaches the age of 97(!!!) you are just then ENTERING old age??!! I know that Okinawa has many of the longest-living people in the world, but that is pretty incredible. I think that in Canada we regard that turning 80 means entering old age. I like the idea that as you enter old age, you start to have the heart of a child.
ReplyDelete--JM
Actually, in Okinawa there are several "old ages" that are seen as significant and there is a special celebration had. "Koki" – age 70; "Kiju" – age 77;"Beijuage" – age 88; "Sotsuju" – age 90; "Kajimaya" – age 97 ; "Hakuju" – age 99 ; "Hyakusai No Ga" age – 100.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this cool website, it is believed that life begins again at 60! What do you think?
http://www.okinawateacompany.com/html/t-wisdom.php
you can now click on the website link in the Kajimaya post!
ReplyDeleteLoved, loved, loved the National Film Board film about the 105 year old French Canadian woman. Inspirational.
ReplyDelete--JM