Thursday, February 20, 2014

Girl's Day

Hinamatsuri, or Girl's Day, is celebrated on March 3rd in Japan. It is also called Doll's Day because of the set of ornamental dolls that are displayed at this time each year. I know I am over a week early but, rest assured, there is a reason for this; keep reading.

This holiday is a day to celebrate little girls and to wish them health, growth and happiness in the future. On this day, girls are given a set of dolls that consist of, at the very least, an Emperor and and Empress, more if the family can afford it. Sweets and cakes are also made in honor of the day.

Now the dolls in the picture may look like they are just thrown together, but there is a particular placement for each and every one and each display is made up of exactly seven tiers.

On the first tier (the highest) only the Emperor and Empress dolls are found. They are usually set in front of a golden screen, the lanterns on either side of them are optional.

On the second tier you can find three ladies of the Court. They are often holding sake equipment.

Five musicians can be found on the third tier.

On the fourth tier you can see two ministers; one on the far right and another on the far left. Between then are tables bearing rice cakes.

Between the mandarin and cherry blossom trees on the fifth tier are three samurai, protectors of the Emperor and Empress.

The sixth tier holds various items used by the Emperor and Empress while in their palace.

And on the final tier are the various items used when they are away from the palace.

Now complete sets of these dolls are very very expensive and as a result, most sets are passed down from generation to generation sort of like getting your grand mother's fine china after she passes away.

Now why am I writing about this holiday today instead of on the day that the celebration takes place? There are two reasons: One, is that I have a lot of free time today; the second and, more important, reason is that in Japan Hinamatsuri Dolls are often displayed beginning in February and taken down immediately after the festival. To keep them up after may lead to your daughter getting married late in life.

I wonder how many over-protective fathers leave the display up year round.

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