AlterNation

Today is Harikuyo, the festival of broken needles. Harikuyo is a memorial service for the broken sewing needles of the past year that is celebrated in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan, a ritual of thanks and respect for the tools of the sewing trade…but why limit it to that? Let’s honor our broken knitting needles and crochet hooks also — we’ll say they’re eligible!

So, happy Harikuyo! (I suggest sushi to celebrate. How about inari? They’re little tofu pockets, kind of like the tofu pieces the broken needles are placed within during the ceremony. Not cool with sushi? Don’t forget chocolate goes with everything!)