New Year's Greetings Gold Ornamental Kite

Although they first appeared from China in the 8th century, it took kites almost 1,000 years to become truly popular in Japan. Once they did, though, they never stopped being popular! During the Edo period (1603-1868), they became one of the most auspicious ways to welcome the new year because people used to think that by flying a kite, they were encouraging their fortunes to rise in the same way the rectangular paper was soaring in the air. And although life in the cities has made it more difficult to fly kites, the Japanese still think of the kite as a New Year symbol, hence the New Year's Greetings Gold Ornamental Kite!

Like most Japanese talismans, especially those from the Edo period, kites aren't exactly subtle and the New Year's Greetings Gold Ornamental Kite is no exception. At 72 x 49 cm (2.4 x 1.6") and made of gold-colored paper, it grabs your attention immediately. And to make things even more spectacular, its front side features the characters for "New Year's greetings" (which read "geishun") that you see everywhere in Japan during the New Year period. So greet the New Year, Edo-style, with this majestic piece of tradition!

Specs and Features:

• Dimensions: 72 x 49 cm (2.4 x 1.6")
• Materials: paper, bamboo