Kakizome 2025

Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson

This time of year prompts us to reflect on our achievements, places we’ve visited, and people we’ve spent time with. As the new year approaches, we often compile a list of aspirations in the form of resolutions, wishes, and intentions. A few years ago, I shifted my perspective on the new year. Instead of setting specific tasks or resolutions, I choose a single word that encapsulates my goals for the year ahead. This word serves as my guide in decision-making throughout the year. I was introduced to this traditional Japanese practice through Kakizome at Arts Mid-Hudson.

The Japanese convey their hopes for the new year through kakizome, the ritualized first calligraphy writing of the year. Kakizome, meaning “first writing” occurs within the initial days of the year. Historically, this practice involved crafting a poetic calligraphic piece that expressed one’s hopes and aspirations for the coming year, which was later burned to seal the fate of these wishes.

Today, practitioners typically write auspicious kanji (Chinese characters) instead of poems. This custom involves transferring chosen wishes and hopes onto paper as a means of manifestation. For instance, if you aspire for good health in the new year, you would write the kanji associated with positive health; if you seek greater patience, you would practice the kanji for tolerance or acceptance. Kakizome centers on expressing positive wishes for the new year and serves as a reflective practice rooted in the belief that repeatedly practicing a single kanji helps the writer concentrate on their desire.

For over a decade, Arts Mid-Hudson’s Folk Arts Program has partnered with The Mid-Hudson Japanese Community Association (MHJCA) to bring this tradition to the Hudson Valley. As a not-for-profit organization, MHJCA aims to introduce Japanese culture to the local community, foster a sense of unity among Japanese residents, and facilitate cultural exchanges between Japanese and non-Japanese residents of the Hudson Valley. Their educational presentations and language classes cater to both children and adults in the area.

Everyone is invited to participate in Kakizome 2025 on Saturday, January 4, at Arts Mid-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, as we usher in the new year. Volunteers from the local Japanese community will be present to assist you in selecting and writing your chosen kanji. All materials, including brushes, paper, and ink, will be supplied. This free event runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. You can register to secure your spot, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Invite your friends and family to partake in this cherished tradition. I will be bringing my family to celebrate the start of the new year together. As we bid farewell to 2024, what are your hopes and wishes for 2025?

If you go:
Kakizome 2025
Saturday, January 4, 2025
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Arts Mid-Hudson, 696 Dutchess Turnpike, Suite F, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
To Register: www.artsmidhudson.org/kakizome
Contact: info@artsmidhudson.org
845-454-3222