Happy New Year!

Ringing in the new year is a huge celebration here in Okinawa. They have several festivals around the island and many people visit a shrine for the 1st visit of the year. We ventured out to Shuri Castle, which is a reconstructed castle, close to the capital city of Naha. They had many performances and a traditional New Years Day ceremony....we will have to catch the ceremony next year because staying up until midnight was way too much for some people in our family :)
The traditional costumes that are worn during the performances are beautiful, the colors are so vibrant and the performers are very talented. Enjoy!

Ryukyu Mura Part 2

What can I say? I love Ryukyu Mura!! There is something about going there that just makes me happy....

Love these Shisas

Alyssa was able to work on a tradional loom.

Such beautiful colors

Christmas Lights

In Okinawa, Christmas isn't celebrated in the traditional way but they do go all out with lights...During December, a local winery transforms into a winter wonderland, they hang thousands of LED lights and have performances throughout the evening. Across the street from the winery is the Peace Prayer Memorial Park, so at 8 o'clock every night they turn off all the lights and have a moment of prayer to ask for peace. It really is a wonderful sight when they turn all of the lights back on....

Malia loved the tunnel of lights

Walking in a winter wonderland

Beautiful

Alyssa and one of the talented performers