Harikuyo

[OT (well, mostly) from cottage renovations]

[lifted from nessachan]

it turns out today is Harikuyo, the Japanese festival of broken needles, which seamstresses and tailors observe to honour bent or broken needles that have accumulated over the course of the year. 

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"the sewing stops on that day, tofu or a paste made from devil's-tongue are pierced with the bent needles, offered to a Shinto shrine and buried in the earth."

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"Sukunahikonanomikoto, one of the deities of Awashima Shrine, is the deity of needlework.  It is said that he is the first deity to teach people the way of needlework.  This event is held to show one's appreciation to broken needles and for people to pray for their progress in needlework.   After the broken needles are purified at the main shrine, needles are put into a Harizuka (mound for needles) with salt and they are returned slowly to the ground with the passing of time. "

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the loft floor has yielded up pins but no needles, at least not yet.  and I don't think Harikuyo includes nails, a superabundance of which came out of the walls during last year's deshingling exercise.