Himawari a Ssociation 春号
北九州国際交流協会 K itakyushu I nternational Himawari A ssociation 春号 In this edition of HIMAWARI: Spring Edition Hanami, Kodomo no Hi, Hinamatsuri, the KIA is moving, an article 2013 by guest writer Jamina Ovbude, and much much more! Spring is a season worth celebrating in Japan. The weather finally warms after the long cold of winter, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, and people finally come out from under their kotatsu and start to do things outdoors again. So without further ado, let’s look at two major spring cele- brations; Hinamatsuri (March 3rd) and Kodomo no hi (May 5th) Hinamatsuri Beginning in the Edo period, Hinamatsuri (lit. Doll Festival) is a day specifically to celebrate young girls. Families with young daughters will bring out a set of dolls known as “Hinaningyo” representing the Em- peror, Empress and their court in the style of the Heian Period and dis- play them somewhere within the house. And why the Heian Period? Ac- cording to one theory, while Hinamatsuri as a festival is only dated back to the Edo period, the act of displaying dolls is itself dated all the way back to the Heian Period. It should be kept in mind however that there are a number of differing theories on the origins of the tradition. The dolls are displayed during the 3rd as a sort of prayer for the safe and healthy growth of the girls in the household, though leaving the dolls out past March 3rd means the girl will have a late marriage. Kodomo no hi Kodomo no hi (Lit.
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