Hina Matsuri
It's getting warmer.
March 3rd was 雛祭り(Hina-Matsuri, the Dolls' Festival) in Japan.
Hina-Matsuri is known as an event to display 雛人形(Hina-Ningyou, dolls for the festival) to wish for the growth and happiness of girls.
雛(Hina) means something small and cute.
The roots of this festival can be traced back to the "上巳節" in ancient China.
In those days, there was a custom of 禊(misogi, a purification ceremony) by the water.
Somewhere down the line, people have held a banquet on March 3rd, when the sake cups are poured into the water along with 禊.
After that culture entered Japan, it seems to have become associated with 形代(katashiro, a paper in the shape of a person) of Japanese culture.
形代 is used to purify a person's foulness.
It seems that 形代 were thrown into the water to 厄除け(Yaku-Yoke, against bad luck) at the festival.
After then, people began to make and display the dolls.
Doll making flourished during the Edo period.
March 3rd became a girls' festival and was called "桃の節句(Momo-no-Sekku)".
The reasons why the festival is called "桃の節句" are as follows.
- Peach blossoms bloom around March 3rd on the lunar calendar.
- Peaches are believed to be sacred food.
With the passage of time, so many different meanings have come to be attached to it.
Hina-Matsuri is a profound culture.
I sincerely hope for the happiness of girls all over the world.
Youkou
