Girl’s Day ‘Hinamatsuri’
Hinamatsuri or Girl’s Day is celebrated yearly on March 3rd (the 3rd day of the 3rd month) and is an occasion to pray for a young girl’s growth and happiness. Hinamatsuri comes from the ancient Chinese who believed that the sings of the body and any misfortunes could be transferred to a doll and washed away by setting the doll adrift in a river. When this practice spread to Japan, it was linked to girls playing with dolls in the Edo Period and developed into Hinamatsuri.
Onna no Sekku, which translates to “Girl’s Festival,” is usually celebrated with parents or grandparents presenting a set of hina dolls to their daughter or granddaughter at birth or on her first birthday, and these traditionally become a part of her bridal trousseau. The dolls are put on display about a week before the actual day. However, they are quickly put away at the end of the day on March 3rd, as leaving the dolls out beyond that date is considered unlucky and may lead to delay in a girl’s marriage. The dolls are carefully rewrapped and packed away, not to be seen until the next Hinamatsuri.
One particular food that is served for Hinamatsuri and is considered very lucky is steamed rice with red beans. A pink mochi called sakura mochi is filled with red bean paste, wrapped in a cherry leaf and eaten for dessert. In Hawaii, Girl’s Day doll collections and Girl’s Day foods are popular in homes, especially those where grandmothers carry on this tradition.
The Invitation
You can also send an origami envelope (folded into an envelope using origami paper) that includes the invitation to a tea party. (recommended paper used: pink)
The Decorations
Cherry blossoms are displayed to remind girls to be gentle and peaceful like the soft petals of the cherry blossom. One can make either a scroll or picture of sakuras to hang on the wall.
Directions:
On a white sheet of paper, drop 4-6 drops of black tempura paint. Blow on it with a straw to form branches. Paste tissue blossoms to branches. Cut green tissue into leaf shapes and paste. To hang as a scroll, paste edges to dowels and attach string to the upper dowel.
The Dolls
Spread a bright red cloth over a five-to-seven tiered structure. Display your special dolls, usually consisting of 15 porcelain and cloth dolls, including the Emperor, Empress and their court. These dolls are symbolic ornaments and not toys. Many are family heirlooms, having been handed down from generation to generation. Usually, a person would give someone within the family a doll and not to be bought on your own. (a tradition in Hawaii)
The most important dolls for the Girl’s Day display are the Emperor and Empress, who together are called the Dairi-sama. They are always placed on the top tier. The three court ladies or sanin kanjo with their banquet trays and dishes are placed on the second tier, and the five musicians or gonin-bayashi are on the third. The ministers with their bows and arrows are called udaijin and sadajin. They occupy the fourth tier while the deputy chiefs or jichō are on the fifth level. Household effects and small trays of mochi are placed on the sixth and seventh tiers.
(Thought this doll looked so kawaiii, as it's a 'Precious Moments' figurine. Found this pic from a Hawaii website, at a store located there. I'd like to buy this doll for my daughter the next time we visit Hawaii again.)
The Dress
Girls usually wear kimonos, usually worn with a sash or obi. Young girls wear brightly colored, floral-decorated kimono. A kanzashi or hair ornament is tucked in the girl’s hair. The furisode or long-sleeved kimono is worn by children or unmarried women. The kimono fold should be left over right.
(Don't their faces remind you of 'onnagatta-Takki' in Yukinojo Henge? lol Cute girls tho, ne? I just wished I owned a kimono for myself and my daughter. *sigh* Sadly to say, I don't. They cost too dang much! -_-)
(Too bad their faces aren't turned around. But, kireii-looking kimonos though!)
(aaaah, kawaiii this girl is dressed in a kimono at a templte for Hinamatsuri! Kawaiiiii ne~)
The Refreshments
Guests sit on cushions or zabuton on the floor and are served refreshments on a low table. Sweet tea brewed with the leaves of Hydrangea hortensia or amacha is served in the belief that it will keep them in good health. Amacha was used to sweeten foods before the introduction of sugar. Tri-colored mochi, manjū or other sweets are served.
Example foods/drink served:
Mugicha (a type of tea sold in Asian or Japanese grocery stores)
Chichi Dango (type of pink & white colored fresh mochi shaped into a rectangle-shape; my favorite! =D)
Girl’s Day Pink Coconut Mochi (use ‘blue’ mochi for Boy’s Day)
Tri-colored Mochi (usually green & pink color, like a rainbow; usually slightly humbug or difficult to make)
Girl’s Day Bento (make into rice balls w/nori for hair; use baked spam or hamburger cut in triangles for the dress; add celery or carrot sticks for arms & legs; and Japanese pickles for hair decorations)
Strawberry Yokan (a type of dessert or jello, but usually slightly on the hard-side; can be found in Japanese or Asian grocery stores)
The Games
Ojami is a juggling game using beanbags or otedama. The purpose of the game is to see how many of the brightly-colored bags can be kept in the air at the same time. The bags are filled with azuki beans but wiliwili seeds or other suitable filling may be used. You can also substitute rice instead of the seeds and just pack the small beanbags tight before closing or sewing.
Directions for playing:
Each player needs one otedama. Players stand in a circle with one person holding all the otedama. This person selects one other player and throws one otedama at a time to that player.
This player in turn selects another player and throws the otedama to that player, and so on. Soon all the bags are in the air.
Ayatori or string games are played using approximately 4 feet of heavy-duty string.
Arts & Crafts
You can cut from pink or red-colored origami paper and shape them into a sakura (or cherry blossom) by using a template. Cut them out for decorating.
The Music
Usually one can play children’s Japanese folk songs sung by children and can be played on this day, but you can also sing a version to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” learning this Hinamatsuri song.
Kyo-o wa-a tanoshi (Today is a special day,)
Tanoshi, tanoshi (A special day, special day,)
Kyo-o wa-a tanoshi (Today is a special day,)
Hinamatsuri (It’s Hinamatsuri.)
Hope you all found this little bit of info rather interesting and informative. Since I'm of American Japanese decent, thought I'd share in a little heritage of the Japanese customs I grew up with in Hawaii that had been taught from my ancestors (great grandparents, etc.). Btw, this celebration is also celebrated every year in Hawaii as the state has a large influx of Japanese living there as well. So, Hawaii people also follow the same customs as Japan does.
And, of coz, as always...I how can I NOT post a little pic of Takki ne? (even tho Hinamatsuri & *him* don't match with one another ne? lol *covers mouth while laughing* Enjoy this pic~XDD <3<3<3
After today though, I will try to post some photos of my daughter from this day as soon as I'm able to get the photos from my friend.
*REIKO*
