Hina Matsuri: Festival of dolls

• 22/09/2008 - 00:00
• Author: Inuchan
• Japan
• 0 Comments
• Read in IT

In Japan, the third day of March of every year is celebrated as the day of Hina Matsuri, precisely called the Feast of Girls!

    

It's an event where families pray for their daughters grow well and healthy. For this occasion platforms are set up that usually contain five to seven levels and are covered by a red sheet called hi-Mosen. On top of all this dolls are placed that represent various things.

On the top of the "stairs" there are emperor Dairi and his wife, empress Hina (these two are called Hina-Ningyou). Placed on either side of them, there are positioned lamps called "Bombori" and some little decorative plants: to the left (that is near the emperor) we find a little tree of clementine, although called "Ukon-no-Tachibana", while to the opposite side we find a peach, which is the "Ukon no Sakura".

The step just below is reserved to three courtesans, also called Sannin-Kanjyo, and below that there are musicians of Imperial Court who play ancient instruments and are dressed with clothes of the Heian Age. Continuing to descend the stairs there are two ministers to court: Udaijin and Sadaijin, the latter is represented with a long beard as the oldest between the two. To them are offered the Hishimochi, a little candy of pink, white and green, which is to symbolize, respectively, peach flowers, snow and earth. This symbolizes the scene of the spring when the grass begins to grow under the snow and peach blossoms start blooming.

Finally, there are the three servants "Shi-Cho" positioned on the lowest level (this structure is considered only if platform has five levels).

On the stairs further are sorted little items of daily use, for example some mirrors, needlework's basket and items for the tea ceremony.

Here's an example of stairs to seven floors.

In ancient times this tradition was celebrated sorting straw dolls on some disks, similar to plates, or on some little boats, letting slip along the river Kamo and Takano, with the hope that they (the dolls), after reaching the sea, would lead off the bad luck and evil spirits. At that time, these dolls, upon reaching the ocean, would get entangled in the fishermen's nets. Today, however, once they are released into the river they are taken back before they flow into the sea, and are afterwards burned at a temple.

The Japanese superstition says that if the dolls are not put off just after the third of March, the girl will marry very late.

Other than Hishimochi, on this day food and drinks are served such as the odd Amazake, a type of very sweet sake and with no alcohol. It is a derivative of fermented rice, though. Or the "Arare", which are a kind of savory crackers in soy sauce. For candy, one would eat the "Sakura Mochi" whereas for lunch or dinner Chirashi Zushi is served, which is a variant of sushi, and is served on a big bowl full of rice with with fish slices on top.

And for a good end of this celebration of dolls one certainly couldn't miss a little song of our dear Japanese friends! It's called "Ureshii Hinamatsuri" that is - Happy Hinamatsuri - so, in a few lines you can watch a video taken from YouTube, where it is sung, and you, dear NaNoDian friends, you can follow it and get excited while singing it, considering that we have here a super-exclusive version with karaoke included!

Loading video Ureshii Hinamatsuri...