Nihongo-a-Go-Go :: Mandy's Journal

Yay! Girls' day!

Yes, today is Hina Matsuri, the Festival of Dolls. It's Girls' Day in Japan, which isn't a national holiday or anything, though. Basically, mothers set up hina dolls, which can be a simple prince and princess on a stand, up to a seven step stair-like set up of beautiful porcelain dolls with real hair and glass hair, fifteen figures of the royal court. We saw one such set at JR Takashimaya last week. It was amazing. The royal couple, the three maids, the five musicians, and then the old retainers, along with the painted lanterns, flowers, diamond mochi, treasure chests, and sedan chairs. Simply amazing. I mean, this set was probably six or seven feet tall. The tiny price tag, nestled in among the sakura and expensive cloth read "1050000" yen. Yes, that's about ten thousand dollars. I can't even imagine...I wanted to be there when someone bought that set, just to see someone plunk down that sort of dough.

Anyway, Girls' Day isn't a huge celebration. I did get some little dolls of my own, only the prince and princess. I think they're adorable, though.

I'm terrible at photographing them, sorry. They really are adorable in person. Anyway, Girls' Day ends rather quickly as superstition mandates that mothers must put away the dolls very early on March 4, otherwise the daughters will get married late. Obviously most women no longer believe this...but there's still that nagging bit that makes sure the dolls are safely stowed come noon on the fourth. :)

Posted by Mandy at March 4, 2005 12:19 AM