Tricks, Traditions and Treats: A Look at the Trick or Tea Halloween Ceremony

The Harvard-Westlake Parents Mindfulness Club and the Harvard-Westlake Japanese Affinity Group (JAG) joined forces at the Trick or Tea Halloween Tea Ceremony!

Presented by the Urasenke Los Angeles Association’s Youth Group at the pristine Shoseian Japanese Teahouse, the event blended Japanese tradition with Halloween fun with a twist!

A Feast for the Senses

Upon arriving, guests—donned Halloween inspired kimonos—were greeted by an array of unique Halloween-themed utensils, all carefully selected based on the principle of “Toriawase.”

This concept involves picking utensils that complement and contrast each other, weaving the theme, season, hosts, and guests into a creative holiday experience.

It’s a way for the host to silently communicate with the guests, as conversations often revolve around the utensils used during the ceremony.

Spooky Sips and Treats

The main event was, of course, the tea. Guests enjoyed ceremonial-grade matcha paired with Japanese Halloween treats (yellow and orange candy corn shaped mochi). But this wasn’t just any tea ceremony; it had a creepy twist.

Guests learned about Japanese ghoulish ghosts and even saw Halloween-inspired tea containers and bowls, flowers in a skull, a scroll inscribed with an evil laugh, mask-donned tea masters.

The Season of Nagori

October is special for tea enthusiasts, known as the month of “Nagori,” which focuses on tidying up and preparing for the new season. It’s often called the Tea People’s New Year, when the rosunken hearth is opened, and new matcha is welcomed. The tradition includes using up odds and ends and celebrating old, worn-out items, embracing the idea of fresh beginnings. This year, the event managed to incorporate this somber tradition with the playfulness of Halloween.

Yokai, Yurei, and Kaidan, Oh My!

The ceremony also introduced guests to the world of Japanese yokai (monsters), yurei (ghosts), and kaidan (scary stories). These elements are particularly popular during Japan’s summer o-bon holidays, when the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be at its thinnest, much like Halloween and Dias de los Muertos.

The ceremony ingeniously blended this Japanese tradition with the American Halloween spirit for a unique twist on the Nagori season.

The Trick or Tea Halloween Tea

Ceremony wasn’t just a gathering; it was an experience that merged cultural practices with a youthful millennial flair.

Traditions aren’t static; they’re living, breathing entities that can adapt and become even more meaningful when combined thoughtfully.

So here’s to more events that mix the old with the new in delightful ways!

Hope you can join us next time!