Fall 2019 Festivals
Spring 2019 Festivals
Nowruz: The Persian New Year Celebration
Thursday, February 28, 2019 @ 1 PM
Charles B. Wang Center Chapel
Norwuz (literally meaning "New Day") is the Iranian New Year, which commences at the exact moment of the spring equinox and is celebrated for a full two weeks. The iconic heart of Norwuz is the custom of creating a beautiful still-life table setting called Haft Seen (a Persian translation of “Seven S”) that includes at least seven items that begin with the letter “S” in Persian.
Azita Houshiar, an Iranian American writer, illustrator, and cooking instructor, will invite our audience to gather around the Haft Seen to explore the history and traditions of this charming ancient fête while partaking of Persian teas and sweets to celebrate the transition from the slumber of winter to the splendor of spring and the coming of the Persian New Year.
Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival!
Sunday, May 5, 2019
12:00–5:00 PM
Admission includes all hands-on workshops and theater presentations.
Welcome spring to Long Island with the blooming of sakura (cherry blossoms), the sounds of taiko drums, and a wondrous array of Japanese cultural exhibits at the Wang Center. The Wang Center will provide many exciting activities, including ikebana flower arrangement, tea workshops, manga drawing, origami paper folding, kimono dress-ups, and cosplay (costumed role-play of a Japanese manga character) for all ages. Please join us in your favorite manga character costume.
Space is limited for the performances and workshops, so make your reservation fast!
This festival is co-produced by the Japan Center at Stony Brook University and the Ryu Shu Kan Japanese Arts Center. Please check their website for more information about the festival.