Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
When I was preparing this month's list of prompts I ran into a wonderful prompt 'Year Market', the first thing I thought was that's on Christmas fairs, but that isn't completely true. As I sought further I found a better name for this prompt ... Toshi No Ichi translated means 'Last Market of the Year' and that, my friends, sounds better. Japan has a big tradition on 'markets and fairs'. Whole year through there are lots of fairs and markets where you can go to. Toshi No Ichi was really the last market of the year. At that market the Japanese bought decorations and ornaments for the New Year's Celebrations for low prices. After Toshi No Ichi there weren't any markets organized 'til after the festivities for New Year.
Toshi No Ichi can be compared with our Christmas Fairs as they are organized in the days before Christmas. On these fairs all kinds of goods are sold for the Holidays and New Year's Eve.
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| Credits: Christmas Fair Barcelona |
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| Credits: Winter Fair York |
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| Toshi No Ichi |
It's always a joy to walk over these Year Markets ... brings me to the Christmas feeling. I have written the next haiku as a response on this theme for today 'Year Market (Toshi No Ichi)':
wandering over the fair
feeling Christmas deep inside
Gluhwein (*) warms my heart
(*) warm red wine with Clove and Cinnamon, a delicious hot drink especially for the winter holidays.
This prompt will stay on 'til December 15th 11.59 AM (CET) and I will post our new prompt today around 10.00 PM (CET). Than our prompt will be: Hawk (taka).
Have fun! Be Inspired and Creative. And ... SHARE ...
