While my lovely Allie is experiencing snow and chilly weather in the Seattle area, down in North Texas, we're getting a heavy hit of rain. And over the years, whenever it rains, I can't help but think of Teru Teru Bozu!
What's Teru Teru Bozu, you might ask? Well, you might have already seen them before in anime, manga, or Japanese movies & dramas. They're those cute little things that sort of look like ghosts that you see people hanging from eaves, in windows, or on their umbrellas. But what do they mean?
Today, they represent a "wish" by a child (or anyone, really, but they're more common among kids) for bad weather to go away and be replaced by sunny weather so that they can go out to play. Teru Teru Bozu also has a nursery rhyme song similar to ones American children have, like "Rain, Rain, Go away." However, like many old customs and nursery rhymes, the tradition is actually based on something a little darker that many people forget or don't even know about--"yokai" (Japanese ghosts or monsters) stories!
So next time it rains, why not try your hand at making your own little Teru Teru Bozu? You can go with the traditional white cloth or tissue paper, or make it even cuter by trying out different colors of fabric, tissue, or whatever you like! You could even make it look like one of your favorite anime or video game characters.
(Of course, if you're like Allie and live in Seattle, yours might not have as much effect on the weather. ;D) If you ever make one, be sure to leave us a link to a photo in the comments!
Until next time!
Usamimi
