Hi everyone!!
It's almost March, and March 3rd is one of the important days; it's my birthday!! (it actually is lol)
March 3rd is also the day of Hinamatsuri (=ひな祭り).
Here are some things to do on Japanese Hinamatsuri.
1. History
Hinamaturi was originally called Jyoshi-no-sekku (=上巳の節句) and one of the important 5 events along with new years day.
Basically, in ancient Japan, odd numbers were considered as more superior (=陽数) which I believe is the opposite to western cultures.
Therefore, the day with double odd numbers (January 1st, March 3rd, May 5th, July 7th, and September 9th) are the 5 event days.
March 3rd is also known as Momo-no-sekku (=桃の節句) where 'Momo' means peach.
This is simply because March is the season where Peach flowers are at full bloom.
An image of what Peach flowers may look like
2. Doll festival
While March 3rd was originally Jyoshi-no-sekku , we usually call them Hinamatsuri which literary means Doll festival.
This is because we usually decorate dolls (=雛人形) on this day.
The reason is still unknown but it is said to have originated from girls (usually related to imperial or aristocrat family) playing dolls on this day.
Now the dolls are believed to get rid of bad luck and hope for healthy growth of girls.
In this sense, March 3rd is also considered as a girl's day.
Not surprisingly, there are many rules in decorating the dolls.
First of all, we have the doll of a man and a woman (representing the emperor and empress) and are called Dairibina (=内裏雛).
The placement varies in different regions but usually, the man is on the right side and the woman on the left.
The decoration can be completed with only these two dolls + some decorations like lantern and rice cakes, which is the usual case for normal households.
However, in places like shrines or temples, there are some more dolls in a different level of platforms and is a more formal form.
The two Dairibina will be on the top level followed by three maids of the empress (=三人官女).
Next comes five child musicians (boys) playing drums and flutes (=五人囃子) on the third level and two bodyguards (=随臣) on the fourth.
Finally comes the three (male) housekeepers (=仕丁) on the fifth level.
There are two more bottom levels with more decorations and vehicles.
(Images available from a website by a workshop making these dolls).
These are all actual people/objects who served for the imperial family in ancient times and I would like to save the details for later articles.
3. Foods
There is always good foods in traditional events.
Since doll festivals are intended for kids (girls), there are many snacks rather than full course meals.
There is Hina-arare (=ひなあられ) which are crunchy snacks sort of like crackers.
They are usually made by roasting rice or beans andflavoured with sugar salt or soy sauce.
There is also Hishi-mochi (=菱餅) which are diamond-shaped rice cakes.
These might also be present on the doll display, usually with acolour of green, white, and pink from the bottom to top.
Green represents new grass (which represents the beginning of a new season), white represents snow, and pink represents peach blossoms.
In recent days, many also celebrate with cakes, which becomes quite a problem if you have a birthday on the same day.
(Honestly, you have to look several bakeries before you can find a proper birthday cake)
There are, of course, foods other than snacks.
One of them is perhaps Chirashi-zushi or Bara-zushi (=ちらし寿司・バラ寿司).
(If you have read my article about the differences in western and eastern Japan, you might be interested to know that former is used in the east and later in the west).
They are basically one form of sushi but includes vegetables or eggs instead of just raw fish.
The colour of the eggs adds up the gorgeousness of the food.
Usually, Chirashi-zushi contains more raw fish compared to Bara-zushi due to cultural differences, but in current times they are made in somewhat intermediate forms.
...
So, this was about Hinamatsuri in Japan.
If you liked it, please like and share!!
See you.
にほんブログ村
にほんブログ村
にほんブログ村
It's almost March, and March 3rd is one of the important days; it's my birthday!! (it actually is lol)
March 3rd is also the day of Hinamatsuri (=ひな祭り).
Here are some things to do on Japanese Hinamatsuri.
1. History
Hinamaturi was originally called Jyoshi-no-
Basically, in ancient Japan, odd numbers were considered as more superior (=陽数) which I believe is the opposite to western cultures.
Therefore, the day with double odd numbers (January 1st, March 3rd, May 5th, July 7th, and September 9th) are the 5 event days.
March 3rd is also known as Momo-no-
This is simply because March is the season where Peach flowers are at full bloom.
An image of what Peach flowers may look like
2. Doll festival
While March 3rd was originally Jyoshi-no-
This is because we usually decorate dolls (=雛人形) on this day.
The reason is still unknown but it is said to have originated from girls (usually related to imperial or aristocrat family) playing dolls on this day.
Now the dolls are believed to get rid of bad luck and hope for healthy growth of girls.
In this sense, March 3rd is also considered as a girl's day.
Not surprisingly, there are many rules in decorating the dolls.
First of all, we have the doll of a man and a woman (representing the emperor and empress) and are called Dairibina (=内裏雛).
The placement varies in different regions but usually, the man is on the right side and the woman on the left.
The decoration can be completed with only these two dolls + some decorations like lantern and rice cakes, which is the usual case for normal households.
However, in places like shrines or temples, there are some more dolls in a different level of platforms and is a more formal form.
The two Dairibina will be on the top level followed by three maids of the empress (=三人官女).
Next comes five child musicians (boys) playing drums and flutes (=五人囃子) on the third level and two bodyguards (=随臣) on the fourth.
Finally comes the three (male) housekeepers (=仕丁) on the fifth level.
There are two more bottom levels with more decorations and vehicles.
(Images available from a website by a workshop making these dolls).
These are all actual people/objects who served for the imperial family in ancient times and I would like to save the details for later articles.
3. Foods
There is always good foods in traditional events.
Since doll festivals are intended for kids (girls), there are many snacks rather than full course meals.
There is Hina-
They are usually made by roasting rice or beans and
There is also Hishi-mochi (=菱餅) which are diamond-shaped rice cakes.
These might also be present on the doll display, usually with a
Green represents new grass (which represents the beginning of a new season), white represents snow, and pink represents peach blossoms.
In recent days, many also celebrate with cakes, which becomes quite a problem if you have a birthday on the same day.
(Honestly, you have to look several bakeries before you can find a proper birthday cake)
There are, of course, foods other than snacks.
One of them is perhaps Chirashi-zushi or Bara-
(If you have read my article about the differences in western and eastern Japan, you might be interested to know that former is used in the east and later in the west).
They are basically one form of sushi but includes vegetables or eggs instead of just raw fish.
The colour of the eggs adds up the gorgeousness of the food.
Usually, Chirashi-zushi contains more raw fish compared to Bara-
...
So, this was about Hinamatsuri in Japan.
If you liked it, please like and share!!
See you.
にほんブログ村
にほんブログ村
にほんブログ村
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