Today is the 3rd day of the third month, and it means special day to all those families in Japan who have daughters. Today they are celebrating Hinamatsuri - a day to celebrate the birth of their daughter. Also known as Momo no seku (or peach festival, because it is also a season of peach blossoms). Also known as Girls Day.
Most of the houses with girls will display Hinaningyo (ornamental dolls)". The dolls are always arranged in a set of 7 or 5 tiers. The topmost tiers belong to the The Emperor and The Emperess, next tier 3 court ladies, 2 ministers and lowermost for the servants. Also displayed are peach blossom, Hishimachi, Hina- arare and miniature furniture. The dolls are dressed in traditional kimono from the from the hieien period(794- 1192). The kimono worn by the dolls is now almost obsolete but makes rare apperances on royal ceremonies.
The origin of the festival can be traced back to a ancient chinese festival Hina nagashi (literally meaning doll floating). The chinese people will float down straw dolls down the rivers supposedly taking all the bad luck with them. Its during the Edo period(1603-1867), the festival was celebrated and popularized as Hinamatsuri (Girl's Festival).
On Hinamatsuri, the families get togather and share traditional meals Hishi mochi ( comprising of amazake, chirashizushi, and Hina arare. Clams also forms a part of the customary meal and are asociated with chestity, the reason being a pair of clam will only fit and no pair but the original one.
The dolls Hina-ningyo are taken out for display only once a year and soon after stored for the next year. As they believe if the dolls are not stored soon after, the girls marriage will be delayed. The dolls are usually gifted by grand parents or parents to the girls before she celebrates her first Hinamatsuri. During recent times buy the complete set of dolls have become really difficult owing to the high prices and small apartments. Usually the parents start buying with The emperor and The empress and keep on adding dolls every year till the set is complete. Sometimes the girls also own the dolls set once owned by their mother or grand-mothers. The dolls have great emotional and sentimental value. Someday even the daughter will pass the dolls to her daughter...
Now thats an amazing way to celebrate ur daughters existence..Isn't?
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