Piczo

Hina Matsuri (Girl's Festival)

The 3rd of March - (by the Solar Calendar) is called "Hina-no-Sekku","Hina-Matsuri" (Doll's Festival) or "Momo-no-Sekku" (Peach blossom's Festival) which used to be one of the important seasonal events of ancient China and has now developed into a function symbolic of Japanese arts and customs and has been in existence in Japan since the Edo Period (17 - 19 centuries). Momo-no-Sekku used to be held on the 3rd of March according to the Lunar Calendar, though today it is actually not until early April that the peach blossoms begin to bloom, and that is how the name of this festival came about. On this day families with young daughters celebrate this event at home to ensure their daughter's future happiness. That is, they decorate hina-Ningyo (special, beautiful dolls which are replicas of an ancient emperor and empress and their subordinates). The dolls are not the everyday dolls usually played with but are ceremonial dolls, a heritage of the household, handed down, many of them, from generation to generation. They are displayed for a few days in the best room of the house at this festival time, after which they are carefully boxed and put away until the next year. Parents who are able to do so buy new sets of dolls for a girl baby born since the preceding festival, and relatives and friends make gifts of dolls. Peach blossoms, symbolizing a happy marriage, are indispensable decorations of this festival day. The blossoms signify the feminine traits - of gentility, composure and tranquility. A set of Hina-dolls usually consists of at least 15 dolls, all in the ancient costumes. The display also includes miniature household articles which often are exquisite artistic productions. The dolls most highly valued are the Dairi-sama, which represent the Emperor and Empress in resplendent court costumes of silk. They are attended by their two ministers, three kanjo (court ladies), and five court musicians. All are displayed on a tier of steps, usually five, from 3 to 6 ft. long and covered with bright red cloth. This stand is specially set up in the home only on this day. The Imperial couple occupy the top step, the Emperor at the left of the Empress. Court ladies and banquet trays and dishes occupy the second tier; the other dolls are arranged on the lower tiers. In the old days, on March 3 by the Lunar Calendar, all the people, men, women and children, made crude dolls of paper, and in making them they transferred their ill fortunes or sickness to the dolls. Gathering the dolls, they went together to a nearby brook or river, and cast them, bearing all their evils, into the water. It was thus an occasion for a family outing, just when the pleasant spring season started. Also the date which this festival is held marks the onset of spring. Most families take out this display of dolls around mid-February and put it away immediately after Hina Matsuri is over. There is a superstition that says that families slow to put away the dolls will have trouble marrying off their daughters!

Otosan Osaki was on a business trip on March 3rd. SO when we didn't celebrate Hina Matsuri, in a house filled with girls, I was disappointed beyond words. Luckily the following evening, after my host aunt and Ebuki (my host cousin) arrived, the celebrations began. Earlier, Kaho and I had to smoosh meat together with our bare hands, which mind you is not a pretty feelings. Next Ebuki, Hikari, Maako, and Me made Takoyaki. We ended up eating more of the Fried Octopus then we did making a plate for everyone else though. When we were finishes we wnet up to the second floor family room, where the adults were waiting for us to start. The had prepared Shashimi and Hamburg for all of us. The kids all sat down at a coffee table in front of the television and ate quietly, until Obachan came over. She began singing the Hinamatsuri Song, "Akari o tsukemashou bonbori ni 明かりをつけましょう　ぼんぼりに Ohana o agemashou momo no hana お花をあげましょう　桃の花 Go-nin bayashi no fue taiko 五人ばやしの　笛太鼓 Kyo wa tanoshii Hinamatsuri 今日は楽しいひな祭り Let's light the lanterns Let's set peach flowers Five court musicians are playing flutes and drums Today is a joyful Dolls' Festival" AFter we all ate a delicious meal, we played a round of cards in which all the girls got their butts kicked by Obachan. With age comes wisdom.