Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Happy Girl's Day!


March 3rd is Japanese Girl's Day called hina-matsuri (Japanese doll festival.) It's a celebration for Japanese girls, and Japanese Boy's Day is May 5th in Japan. People display a set of hina dolls and props in the house, wishing girls' healthy growth and happiness. Parents or grand parents of a newborn girl buy a set of gorgeous hina dolls unless they have special dolls, which are inherited from generation to generation.

Hina dolls are dressed in Japanese ancient costumes and are displayed on the shelves of a stand covered with a red carpet from the end of February to March 3rd. It is believed that any hina doll display should be taken down soon after the festival day; otherwise girls might have to wait to get married.

Hina-matsuri is also called momo-no-sekku, which means a festival of peach blossoms. Peach blossoms, shiro-zake (white rice wine), and hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes) are placed on the stand with hina dolls. Hishi-mochi are colored in pink (implies peach flowers), white (implies snow), and green (implies new growth).

The origin of hina-matsuri is said to be an ancient Chinese ceremony that people let paper dolls flow on a river to get rid of bad luck from their bodies. This practice was combined with girls' doll play and was established as hina-matsuri during Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan.

Traditionally, girls in Japan invited their friends to a home party and had a good time. Many people still prepare a special meal for girls on this day.

It might be fun to plan a Japanese Girl's Day party for your kids.

10 comments:

Samosas for One said...

I love reading your blog. I always learn something new.

Gabby said...

Totemo ii desu! Happy girl's day to you. Love the shrine! Very happy to see your images, too. Am going to see HH the Dalai Lama in Berkeley at the end of April. I'm stoked. (But I'm also going to see Bruce Springsteen twice that month, so go figure on my spirituality.) =0)

Anonymous said...

I like this idea

Mr.Brian said...

Thanks for reminding Crazy Lady about those pictures. I'll be waiting.I am sure she will not let me down.
But thanks for continuing to remind her.She needs that at her age.

Cecile/DreamCreateRepeat said...

What a wonderful holiday and picture! I inherited a lovely Japanese doll like those from my Grandmother (she loved all things Japanese inspite of her good Scottish heritage ; ).

OH MY #6 said...

how fun is that? Happy Girls Day, Yoli!

Lea
xo

Hajar Alwi said...

Happy Girl's Day lovely Yoli! Mochis are really nice. :)

Annie Coe said...

What a cool idea. Happy Girl's Day!
XOXO

yvonne said...

Right back at you! I found your blog through a search for wedding blankets. I was wondering -- I absolutely love your blog photo of the woman with the typewriter. Do you mind me asking if this was a stockphoto that you got from the internet, or if you know who the photographer is. I love it! Thanks very much!

Anonymous said...

Fascinating! The display is gorgeous. Are they only displayed in private homes or in shops, too? Very interesting. Do you have a Hina doll?