Saturday, March 2, 2013

Hina Doll "now and past"


Hina Matsuri "Girls' Day"    (posted; Japanese culture page)
(this is a re-post from last year, edited a little, for my new friends sake

March 3rd is Doll Festival or Girls' Day ←link,  the traditional Japanese festival held to wish girls both health and growth. Hina means doll and matsuri means festival. 
The dolls are decorated after (Feb.3) Setubun ←link for my post   and until probably before 10th of March. (It is said that if you are displaying them so long, the girl might miss the chance to marry, maybe one of the superstitions, haha)
The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period (about 800~1200).  Formerly, people believed the dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits. From an ancient Japanese
 custom, straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them.  
Usually, grandparents buy the set to their granddaughter. The two most important dolls on top of the tiered stand are the Emperor and Empress. Girls also dress up specially on this day in their best kimonos. My dolls were destroyed by the mice many decades ago(^^;)

Hina Doll (Hina ningyo)   link← for the pictures




*modern version of  dolls*

Surprised to see she wears pierced earring

* old version of dolls*


*nursery rhyme for the day from You-tube*

Akari wo tsukemasho bonbori ni
O hana wo agemasho momo no hana
Gonin bayashi no fue daiko
Kyou wa tanoshii hina matsuri


(English Translation)
Let's light the lanterns on the tiered stand.
Let's put peach blossoms on the tiered stand.*
Five court musicians are playing flutes and drums.
Today is a happy Dolls' Festival.

(sorry that I found only short part of the song)


I'm so sorry for posting so soon and long one today (^^;)  
I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. 
I'm linking this post Our World Tuesday

22 comments:

  1. Dearest Miyako.
    Akan no tsukemasho bobbon ni o hana wo agemasho momo no hana goni bayashi no fue diiko kyou wa tanoshi hina matsun.
    Wrasi hinamaturi desune...
    I think so much with you Japanese truly words....
    Have a lovely tanoshi time with Otosan with your children.

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  2. Dear Miyako,
    Lovely dolls and what a nice tradition.
    Have a lovely day !
    Hugs x

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  3. I enjoy your Japanese culture posts very much, thank you!

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  4. Your culture posts are always so informative and always much appreciated, my dear friend! I'm so sorry your dolls were destroyed. This looks like something so many girls here would love, and the dolls are gorgeous!

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  5. really beautiful dolls! i like the tradition, even if there is some superstition to it. :)

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  6. and i'm sorry your dolls were destroyed by the mice.

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  7. Dearest Mikayo, such a gorgeous collection. It must make you so sad, the dolls were destroyed by the mice. Take care, my sweet friend.

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  8. Dearest Miyako,
    Sad that your dolls did not last... Do you have photos of them? Hope so!
    Lovely songs on that video and I admire those dolls you show us here.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  9. When I was a little girl, I used to love decorating hina dolls. And sang that song! Of course mine was the older version. The newer ones look so different! Emperor with colored hair and empress with pierced earring look so wrong to me. Hahaha. But I guess it's okay as long as girls enjoy them :-)

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  10. Dear Miyako,

    Loved seeing your post today and the old dolls are so beautiful.
    Always great to hear about your traditions and culture. Thanks for sharing and hope you are having a wonderful weekend

    hugs
    Carolyn

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  11. the dolls are all so pretty..but,i must admit that i like the old ones better!
    i love the wonderful customs and traditions you have.
    sending love from So. Calif!!

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  12. Dear Miyako, Thank you for your birthday greetings. I thought I would mention Hina Matsuri on my blog as it fell on my birthday, and I thought perhaps others might be interested to look it up on the internet. I didn't really know enough about it to write very much though, unfortunately.
    It's sad your own dolls were destroyed by mice.
    I enjoyed your photo's of the narcissi in the previous post too, a sure sign spring is on the way.

    blessings from New Zealand,
    Diana

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  13. Hello Miyako!
    It's wondeful to learn about this tradition and to hear a nursery rhyme from another country. The dolls are really pretty and it's a lovely idea to pass on to grandchildren x

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  14. Hallo dear Miyako. I'm all behind I'm afraid, but I have my daughter staying with me from France, so I have a good excuse! Oh, I well remember this post from previously. I just love all those beautiful dolls my friend. I hope that you and hubby are keeping well.

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  15. Beautiful dolls! I had a Japanese doll when I was a little girl and kept her on my dresser. I love the clothes and hairstyles.

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  16. What a wonderful post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  17. Wonderful colours.
    Please have a good Tuesday.

    robert geiß

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  18. Hello Miyako, what a lovely tradition. The dolls are beautiful. It is very sad your dolls were destroyed. Thank you for sharing your world, have a happy day! HUGS, Eileen

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  19. What a lovely tradition. Thank you for sharing. Have a good week.

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  20. I have read of this celebration before but never seen pictures. Wonderful to read about; I love this tradition. Thanks for sharing it!

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  21. Such lovely pictures of the dolls!

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