March Holidays - Girl's Day & White Day

Hina Matsuri/Girl's Day - March 3rd

In February, I started noticing displays of dolls in many of the stores we visited. When I asked Kaz about them - he said they were displays selling dolls for a holiday known as Hina Matsuri (or Girl's Day). 

The tradition of Girl's Day dates back to the Heian era (794-1185). At that time...and I guess now too...it was popular for girls of the court to play with dolls. Dolls then went on to be viewed as the caretakers of the girls' health and happiness - keeping bad luck away and bringing good fortune in. 

Little girls in Japan will often be given these dolls - which are traditionally passed down for generations - and the family will then display them from mid-February until March 4th. It is said that if you leave the dolls up too long after March 3rd - then the daughter's marriage may be delayed. The dolls represent the Heian court as they would have sat thousands of years ago. The emperor and empress sit on the top tier with attendant ministers, court ladies, and musicians on the lower tiers. There are usually about 15 dolls total and the dolls often look different (depending on the artist's individual style and technique). 

When celebrating Hina Matsuri several foods are often eaten. Hishimochi are diamond-shaped rice cakes with pink, white, and green layers. The white represents the snow of the waning winter, while the green represents the new growth of spring. I'm not sure exactly what the pink represents - but it seems to be tied to the sakura (cherry blossoms) and ume (plum) blossoms which bloom in the Spring. Shiro-zake is the first variety of sake of the year, which tends to be available in the early spring. Because of its sweet flavor - it came to be associated with girls. Since it's alcoholic - it's only consumed by adults. Hina arare are small balls of crunchy puffed rice which are sometimes sweetened with sugar. Because they were previously made using leftover mochi from New Year's, they came to symbolize thriftiness and creativity (said to be desirable qualities of a good wife). 

Since I wasn't in Japan on Girl's Day, I didn't witness the actually March 3rd celebrations. Hopefully I will be able to do so next year. My Japanese tutor also told me that there is a museum which features these dolls...so I'll have to check that out too. And, if you're wondering...there is not a Boy's Day. However, Children's Day takes place each year on May 5th. 

White Day - March 14th

I was surprised to learn that Japan celebrated "St. Valentine's" Day. I guess I had just assumed that it was mainly an American Hallmark-type holiday. And, even more surprised to learn that in Japan St. Valentine's Day is actually a holiday for men. Typically, women buy chocolates or little gifts for the men in their lives (and not necessarily just significant others - Kaz came home with a box of chocolates from his coworkers).  I read that gifts can be an expression of love, courtesy, and social obligation! However, a month later - on March 14th - Japan celebrates White Day. White Day is the holiday in which the men return the favor...and there is actually a "generally recited rule" that the return gift should be two to three times the price of the gift the women purchased on St. Valentine's Day. 

White Day was first celebrated in Japan in 1978 as an "answer day" to Valentine's Day. Initially, the confectionary companies sold marshmallows and white chocolate to men. However, now various types of chocolates and treats are sold. Several other East Asian countries - China, Taiwan, and South Korea also celebrate the holiday with their own little twists on the tradition. 

Me wearing my beautiful White Day scarf!

This year - I got Kaz some cookies (green tea with red bean filling - yuck!), chocolates, and a fun Star Wars coloring book (yep - the adult coloring book craze has reached Japan). For White Day, he got me a beautiful scarf - that almost seems to change color depending on how you look at it. In typical Kaz style, he gave me the scarf the day that he bought it since I would be getting back to Japan from the US on White Day...and also because it's hard for him to not give gifts as soon as he gets them! :)

I am enjoying learning about new holidays in Japan - and also about new twists on holidays that I've celebrated growing up. I am sure this is the just the start of holidays and traditions...especially as we approach the start of Sakura (Cherry Blossom) season! 

More soon! :) I have at least two more posts in the works...as I think this blog post is long enough for today!