A Yakudoshi for a Special Brother!

Hope everyone is recovering from Christmas . . . but wait!  New Year's  Eve & the day is just around the corner, try like tomorrow and the next day after that!  Oh, I think I have to recover TWICE!!  Anyway, I made a card/project for my brother's surprise Yakudoshi (41st birthday). 

The moolah holder goes inside of the gable box.

Kadomatsu pictured with my project. 

Nine kadomatsu arrangements will be the

centerpieces for my brother's party.

INFO. TAKEN FROM THE
JAPANESE CULTURAL CENTER OF HAWAII WEBSITE

CLICK {HERE} TO GET MORE INFO.

What is Yakudoshi?

"Bad luck ages are referred to as yakudoshi, with yaku meaning “calamity” or “calamitous” and doshi signifying “year(s).” These years are considered critical or dangerous because they are believed to bring bad luck or disaster.

For men, the ages 24 and 41 (or 25 and 42 in Japan) are deemed critical years, with 41 being especially critical. It is customary in these unlucky years to visit temples and shrines to provide divine protection from harm. In Hawai‘i, it has become a widespread tradition among men of Japanese ancestry to celebrate the 41st birthday with a festive yakudoshi party or gathering to ward off the bad luck or disaster that may strike. The birthday person should wear red to bring good health, vitality and long life.

The equivalent yakudoshi ages for women are 18 and 32 (19 and 33 in Japan), with 32 thought to be a particularly hard, terrible or disastrous year. Like the age 41 for men, precautions are taken to ward off bad luck, and some women in Hawai‘i celebrate their 32nd birthday with a special yakudoshi party."

The Japanese style is to keep everything simple.  It's so hard to make something for a guy and be a bit masculine.  It's even harder when I've tried to create a Japanese style card/project!  I used Washi paper and the mizuhiki cord to create a butterfly.  Just had to add it because I wanted to enter it in Danni's Flutter By Wednesday Challenge.  Hopefully it's not too girly. :(

~ Flutter By Wednesday Challenge #90 - Anything goes as long as there is a butterfly, angel, or fairy.

~ Cupcake Craft Challenge #71 - A Time To Celebrate

Okay, you sure got a lesson in Japanese culture!  Now I gotta get my butt outta here!  Have errands to run and things to do!  Not sure if this is my last post of the year but stay tuned people!  :)