The origin of this holiday would come from China.
During the period Edo, March 3 was considered the day of growth and the happiness of girls.
Throughout Japan, various events take place like matsuris or exhibitions gathering thousands of Hina dolls.
During this day the family prepare colorful foods for their daughters.
It is customary to eat chirashi sushi and Ushiojiru soup to celebrate this event that dates back to the Heian era.
This festival and its dolls were originally reserved for the Kyôto court.
The nobility offered the imperial couple figurines representing the emperor, the empress and musicians and assistants in traditional costume.
Dolls are often bought by grandparents at the birth of their granddaughter.
In some families, they are passed on from generation to generation or carried away by the girl during her marriage.
It is customary on March 4th to put the dolls away or to put paper dolls in a river.
Because according to an old Japanese superstition, the families who would put away the dolls too late would find it difficult to marry their daughters that year.
Photo: Jacky, Internet
Writer: Jacky De Greef
Website: https://abcsolution.wixsite.com/jackydegreef
Kyoto and Japan Disvovery FB: https://www.facebook.com/DiscoveryKyoto/
Books “Discovery Kyoto”: https://abcsolution.wixsite.com/discovery-kyoto/books
(3/7/2022)
