Hina Matsuri
The Hina Matsuri [雛祭り] is a festival that takes place on the 3rd of March to wish the healthy and prosperous growth of young girls. During this time, ornamental dolls called Hina Ningyo [雛人形] are displayed on tiered steps which is covered in red cloth. Video below provides a better view than these photos which I took at Ikaho Hot Springs.
The 2 dolls on the top tier represent the Emperor and Empress. The second tier displays court ladies and the third tier displays musicians. Not all Hina platforms are displayed like this however and can just be filled with a load of dolls on each tier.
The Hina Matsuri tradition started during the Heian period in Kyoto where daughters of noble families would play with the dolls. It wasn't until the Edo period however when the tradition really started to take off across Japan with folks displaying the Hina dolls on the steps covered in red cloth.
Traditionally, Hina dolls are said to absorb evil spirits in place of your real 3D daughter. As the Hina dolls contain evil spirits, they shouldn't be kept around for too long as your real daughter would not be able to get married happily. Thus the Hina dolls should be put away soon after the Hina Matsuri.
During the Heian period, Hina dolls made out of paper were set afloat on a river which would later be collected and burned.
Speaking of girls, which would you prefer to have if you had kids?
As for me - either but unfortunately the good lord has not blessed us with kids yet. How many folks do you know who have had more than 3 miscarriages? Doctors only say 5% of women have miscarriages but from asking friends it seems much much higher than that.
Today there are a load of shops doing special Hina Matsuri menu items like Cozy Corner - this cake looks so good!
"Chirashi Sushi" is a rice dish with various types of seafood sprinkled on top and is a dish that one eats to celebrate the Hina Matsuri festivity.
Ideally would have taken photos of my girls in Hina Matsuri style but didn't get round to it - so instead is this mornings Saber-chan.
The 3rd of March also means that its Mirai Suenaga's birthday! Today shes 17 yet again ^^;
The reason why I chose March 3rd as her B'day is because in Japanese, the first character of her name is "Mi" or [ミ] written in katakana. 「ミ」 is also used in place of the number "3."
I guess having Mirai's birthday on the 3rd is rather fitting as shes a girl who I want to grow up to be healthy and prosperous.
