W&L Celebrates Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tea Ceremony The ceremony will take place Jan. 20 in the Senshin’an Tea Room.

By Erica Turman
December 17, 2019

Washington and Lee University’s Chanoyu Tea Society will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. tea ceremony on Jan. 20 in the Senshin’an Tea Room, Watson Pavilion.

The tea ceremony will include seatings at 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Free tickets for each seating will be available starting Jan. 6 and must be picked up at the Reeves Center between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Seats are limited.

Tea society members will serve traditional Japanese sweets and make tea using the open hearth in the tea room.

This year’s theme for the ceremony is mindfulness. The society will also celebrate the New Year of the Rat with an explanation of each of the 12 animals in the Asian Zodiac.

Chanoyu Tea Society is a student organization consisting of students who express an interest in the art of the Japanese tea ceremony and wish to pursue their study of the ceremony in the Senshin’an (Clearing-the-Mind Abode) Tea Room.

“As we learn to be more mindful of our everyday relationships and the world around us, let us come together to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,” Ikeda said. “W&L’s Senshin’an Tea Room is a beautiful setting for thinking about the importance of community and celebrating the New Year together.  The student tea society looks forward to sharing sweets and a bowl of matcha with all.”

The group aims to increase awareness of the Japanese tea ceremony and Japanese culture within the W&L community and the surrounding area by hosting public tea demonstrations.

For tickets contact Cassie Ivey at 540-458-8034 or civey@wlu.edu.