Doll Day is an annual Japanese holiday celebrated on March 3rd. It involves displaying ornamental dolls representing the court of the Heien period. The tradition dates back to at least AD 794 and involves purification from evil spirits. The dolls are arranged on a special platform called a hina dan, with each doll having a specific place. Doll sets are intricately designed and often passed down as family heirlooms. The festival is considered the equivalent of Japan’s boy festival and is a celebration of children.
Doll Day, also called Girls’ Day, Hina Matsuri or Doll Festival, is an annual Japanese holiday. Held on March 794 every year, Doll Day involves the elaborate display of ornamental dolls representing the court of the Heien period of AD 1185-1687 Based on an ancient tradition, Doll Day has been celebrated since at least AD 794
In the Shinto tradition, the third day of the third month was a day of purification and purification from evil spirits. Originally, families would breathe on special paper dolls called Hina Nagashi or floating dolls, to “infect” the dolls with any evil spirits. The dolls would then be placed in a boat carried away in a nearby river. In some places, this custom still exists, although care is taken to use environmentally friendly material, and boats are usually removed from the water and burned after the festival.
Beginning in 17th-century Edo period Japan, the display of intricate dolls has become a custom on Doll Day. A special platform, called a hina dan, is used to arrange the dolls in the correct order, although the order can vary by region. The platform usually consists of three to six levels and is covered in bright red material with a rainbow trim. It can be very large, with some hina dan exceeding six feet (17 m) in height.
Each doll has a specific place on the platform, as it corresponds to their importance to the field. The upper tier contains two dolls representing an emperor and an empress. These dolls are usually placed in front of a gold painted screen and may have vases or lanterns next to them. Beneath the emperor and empress are three ladies of the court, each holding a traditional sake implement. Between each woman there may be a small stand for traditional sweets.
On the third level, five dolls represent court musicians. These dolls have a variety of traditional instruments including a large drum, small drum, hand drum, and flute. The fifth musician represents a singer and is distinguished by holding an intricate fan in his hand.
The fourth level of the platform is the domain of two ministers. The right-hand minister is depicted as a young man and usually stands behind a cherry tree. The minister of the left is older and often has a peach blossom tree in front of him. Some Minister dolls carry bows and arrows. The fourth level also contains two small tables covered with rice cakes called hishimochi.
Three samurai helpers can be found in the fifth level, as well as a variety of plants. The sixth tier of the hina dan is covered with court implements or furniture. Common displays include chests of kimonos, sewing kits, and carriages.
Doll sets are intricately designed and often passed down as family heirlooms. They are only displayed on Doll Day and packed carefully for the rest of the year. Displaying the dolls is said to bring good luck to all little girls, and the festival is often considered the equivalent of Tango no Sekku, Japan’s boy festival.
On Doll Day, revelers drink amazake, a non-alcoholic sake. A traditional staple of the day is soy sauce-flavored crackers. Girls sometimes throw parties for their friends or classmates. Doll Day is above all a celebration of children and has lasted over 300 years in recognition of the love Japanese parents have for their daughters.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
