Japanese Tea Ceremony

The tea ceremony is one of the most hallowed traditions in Japan. One doesn't just sit down and drink, there is an intricate ritual to be observed when partaking in the ceremony. Students receive instruction on this in their school's etiquette education room, shown here.

The tea used in the tea ceremony is created from a fine powder of tea leaves. The first tea ceremonies were held in the 12th century, and since then several different forms of the ceremony have evolved. However, in all formal tea ceremonies, attendants are expected to wear a kimono. This is because of the formal origins of the ceremony (when they were held in palaces). One could think of this level of formality as being similar to that observed if you were invited to the White House for dinner.