1. SOME OF THE COMMONJAPANESE TRADITION
1. HINAMATSURI(GIRL’S DAY/DOLL’S DAY)
DATE : 3rd
MARCH
PURPOSE:
The purpose forthisspecial dayis forthe people toprayforthe happinessandhealthygrowthof
theirgirls.Forinstance,mymother’sfamilywasblessedwithmostlygirlsandthatiswhyit wasand
still atraditionto celebrate thisfestival.
BRIEF CONTENT :
Onthisday, mymother’sparents(mygrandparents) willsetupa displayof dollsoutside of their
house.Theyofferedfood,commonlyrice crackerstothe dolls.
The dollswearcostumesof the of the imperial courtduringthe Heianperiod(794-1192) and are
placedona tieredplatformcoveredwithredfelt.
The practice of displayingthesedollsonthe thirddayof the thirdmonthon the traditional
Japanese calendarbeganduringthe Edoperiod(1603-1868). Itsmain purpose wastofightaway evil
spirits,withthe doll actingasa charm.
My grandparentswouldnormallytake theircollectionof dollsoutfromthe closetduringthe
mid-Februaryandputitawayas soonas the Hinamatsuri festivalisover.Thisisbecause there wasa
sayingthat familiesthatare slowinputtingbackthe dollshave trouble marryingoff theirdaughters.
2. SHICHIGOSAN(5, 7, 3)
DATE : 15th
NOVEMBER
PURPOSE:
The purpose of thisfestival isforthe people toprayfortheirchildren’sgrowthandwell being.
Normallyforthose withyoungchildren.
BRIEF CONTENT :
The meaningbehind5,7 and 3 was actuallythe age of the children.Onthisday,boysand girls
aged3, boysaged5 and girlsaged7 visittheirnearestshrines. The numbers,5,7 and 3 are odd
numberswhichthe people believe tobringgoodlucks.Onthe otherhand, the date itself waschosen
because itwasconsideredthe mostauspiciousdayof the yearaccordingto the Japanese calendar.
On thisday,my motherand heryoungersisterwere dressedinatraditional Japanese costume
whichiscalledthe Kimonowhile visitingthe shrine.Theirparentsboughtthem acandywhichis
calledchitose-amethathasa shape of a stickand comesina bag thatcarries illustrationsof cranes
and turtles – twoanimalsthatare symbolsof longlife.Accordingtomymother,the candyexpresses
the parents’wishfortheirchildrentolive alongand prosperouslives.
