For those of you who are following our journey on Temari balls then this one is a lovely design just in time for Christmas. These would look amazing hanging on a tree or in true Japanese tradition gift them to loved ones.
Christmas Temari ball tutorial
If you are new to the Art of making Temari Balls then check out this great tutorial for how to start off your Temari ball.
Looking for more Temari balls? check out these tutorials.
The Temari Tradition (source)
Temari are highly valued and cherished gifts, symbolizing deep friendship and loyalty. Also, the brilliant colors and threads used are symbolic of wishing the recipient a brilliant and happy life. Traditionally, becoming a craftsman in Japan was a tedious process. Becoming a temari artist in Japan today requires specific training, and one must be tested on one’s skills and technique before being acknowledged as a crafter of temari.
Traditionally, temari were often given to children from their parents on New Year’s Day. Inside the tightly wrapped layers of each ball, the mother would have placed a small piece of paper with a goodwill wish for her child. The child would never be told what wish their mother had made while making the ball.
Alternately, some balls contained “noisemakers” consisting of rice grains or bells to add to the play value. It is said that traditional temari were wrapped so tightly they would bounce. Temari are also known as “gotenmari.”
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