2013-01-25 10:46

Oshogatsu Celebration  – Year of the Snake

What an amazing Oshogatsu Celebration held in January. From fabulous Asian foods to the sounds of Taiko drummers the event was incredibly successful. Over 100 people joined in to celebrate the Japanese New Year and learn and experience more about Japanese culture. Domo Arigato to Nagaoka Chair Tom Brents and the committee for their work on the event. Join us next year for the celebration of 2014 – The Year of the Horse. Fort Worth, TX – The Nagaoka, Japan committee of Fort Worth Sister Cities plans to stage an authentic  Japanese Oshogatsu celebration (Japanese New Year’s celebration), January 24^th at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.  The evening will feature international cuisine, entertainment, and a raffle. Oshogatsu is the celebration of the Japanese New Year and is considered to be one of the most important  annual festivals and holidays in Japan.  “The Japanese look to Oshogatsu as a time for peace and resolution.   It provides people with a sense of renewal,” said Tom Brents, Sister Cities’ Nagaoka Chair.  In Japan, houses can be found decorated with origami and special good luck charms of cranes and turtles that signify hope and happiness for the New Year. Sister Cities stages international events and programs as a way to bring the world to Fort Worth and connect globally as citizen diplomats.  “Despite the fact that technology has made the world a smaller place and facilitated communication, humanity is just as much in conflict.  It is imperative that we prepare ourselves with skills and cultural understanding necessary to function in an increasingly globalized world.   Sister Cities has programs that do just that,” said Board Chairwoman Ann Rice. Cost for the event is $25.00 for Sister Cities’ members and $30.00 non-members.   For more information, please contact Beth Weibel, Sr. Program Manager of Sister Cities at beth@fwsistercities.org.  You may purchase tickets here: https://www.fwsistercities.org/2013-oshogatsu-the-year-of-the-snake