Monday, February 13, 2012

doll's day festival

According to Japanese tradition, the next seasonal divide after Setsubun is the Hinamatsuri (Doll's Day festival) on March 3. In English translation, it is often called Girl's Day festival, because the festival is all about health and the cultural virtues that Japanese parents wish for their daughters to attain as they grown up into women. Virtues such as elegance, graciousness, and familiarity with the classic arts are symbolized in a stepped display of dolls depicting the imperial court. The dolls and intricate little props, which are often heirlooms going back many many generations, are carefully removed from their boxes and wrappings and set up on a platform some time before March 3. But they must be dismantled and re-packed as soon as the festival day is over, or (some say) the daughters risk growing up to be old maids.

At the top of the stepped platform sit the two main dolls that represent the emperor and empress, dressed as they would have been in the Heian period (794 to 1185) when the imperial court was at its peak. Little girls dress up and have tea parties, while their doting relatives look on and take jillions of photographs with the doll display in the background. It is difficult to resist the popularity of this festival (even if you would want to), and we fell into the spirit of the festival too, when our daughter was a little bitty thing of about two or three. Like most other Japanese festivals, this one is associated with specific foods having symbolic significance that we only get to enjoy at this time of year. I confess that is always my favorite part. ;p

The etegami at the top shows the Empress doll, and the writing is a line from the Hinamatsuri song, a children's song that is always sung to death at this time of year. The etegami in the center of the image below shows two simple hina dolls on a peach blossom-shaped cushion. Peach blossoms are an integral part of this festival, and the festival itself is often called "Peach Festival."

10 comments:

  1. Wow, such interesting stuff! It's amazing what we might find if we actually looked around the world. These are so great and delicate. Such a neat art form.

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  2. So interesting and how I love your etegami Debbie.

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  3. I'm usually in Hawaii this time of year - and I love to go to the Japanese stores (well, Shirokiya) and look at all the great Girl's Day stuff. I never buy any of it, but then I head off for the mochi and other tasty food. Alas, I am not in Hawaii this year.

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  4. 日本人より、字がきれいというのは、どうしたものか?
    ひなまつり!
    日本は、いろんなお祝い事があって、いいですね。
    季節の移り変わりをきずかせてくれます。

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  5. Hi,Deb,
    Very nice post! I have tiny "odairi" & "ohina" (=emperor & empress)in a kitchen. Lovely drawings. Thank you!
    Cheers,Sadami

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  6. Sometimes it's hard to imagine all these traditions going on in every day's life. How nice!

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  7. This is SO fascinating, Debbie! What an interesting cultural event to behold. The idea of the tea party while cameras flashing sounds fun - and with special foods..I'd be there too! I always enjoy your etagami!

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  8. beautiful, I love to know about the traditions.

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  9. Enjoyed reading this very much and your illustrations are pretty! When I lived in Hong Kong I saw an exhibition of hand made Japanese dolls - they were exquisite!

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  10. What a lovely window you open for us, Debbie, and then pause to point out all the details in the view. I enjoy your images all the more for the explanations, the riches added by your words.

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