Japanese Girl’s Festival at the present time

We have the festival called Hinamatsuri on the third of March. It’s often called Girl’s Festival or Doll’s Festival in English.

Hinamatsuri

On the day of Hinamatsuri, families with girls display Hina Ningyo that is some dolls such as emperor, empress, their servants, their foods, lamps and so on. They express the imperial court and each doll dress in traditional Japanese clothes that is a Heian period court costume.
The dolls mean that they protect children against illness or accidents. So Hinamatsuri is a day to pray for the health, growth and happiness of girls.

Traditional Hinamatsuri

A lifetime ago in Japan, people display a big set of dolls. Formal dolls for the Girl’s Festival are 15 dolls in one set. They are emperor, empress, three court ladies, five musicians, and five attendants. Furthermore, so many goods like golden folding screen, lamps, chest of drawers, mirror stand or sewing box are displayed on the seven tiers of platform covered with red carpet. It’s so big!
Only a few times ago, Japanese people display the big set of dolls on Hinamatsuri at their home.

At the present time in Japan

Japan trends towards nuclear families as same as other countries, and the population of Japanese people to live in apartments is increasing. So, people display only two dolls of emperor and empress these days. At the department store, set of two dolls are sold and many people buy it. Some people don’t display anything. Of course, some people display a big set of dolls. Just my case, my dolls are handheld size and only two dolls without any tiers. They are so cute, aren’t they?!

For small kids at the present time

Young girls are not used to seeing a traditional Japanese doll because many cute fluffy stuffed dolls at the supermarkets and they have them. So some young girls feel scared of the dolls for Girl’s Festival. Just for my kids’ case, they didn’t want to go into a room where are displayed a big seven tiers’ dolls for Girl’s Festival at their kindergarten. Teachers just displayed them beautifully, my kids are scared.

Summary

Even the size of doll is changed, Japanese people celebrate Girl’s Festival to eat a special rice cake and special sushi for the festival same as before. Not only at home but also at a department or some platform, dolls for Girl’s Festival might be displayed. It’s lucky to run into them in Japan!