When the bokeh flowers in the garden bloom, I care about visiting graves. I don’t know why, but it’s surely because the bokeh flowers begin to bloom in early March. Another reason may be that the bokeh flowers that were blooming when I visited the grave in the past were impressive.
The Hinamatsuri is a day to pray for the healthy growth of girls and a day to announce the beginning of spring. This year, however, pneumonia caused by the coronavirus spread worldwide and is depressing. We hope to get out of this situation quickly and have a bright and lively spring.
Many flowers fall with each petal, but camellia falls with the whole flower. So fallen camellia can be often decorated like an ikebana. Today, we have floated red and white camellia in a large vase to make a Hina decoration.
Hina dolls widely range from those made by masters to those sold at 100 yen shops. Even if you take any one of them, there is one wish, and the common wish contained therein is the happiness of your daughter.
For this special Spring day
More than anything–Hina Matsuri
This is the last passage of the poet Satou Ichiro’s “Happiness Hina Festival”.
The Doll’s Festival on March 3 is a festival that prays for the healthy growth and happiness of girls. In families with girls, dolls called “Hina-ningyou” are displayed. In the past, it was believed that dolls would drive out evil spirits, and so paper dolls were run down into rivers and the sea. But in the Edo period, dolls began to decorate. The dolls represent the state of the palace, and wear beautiful traditional palace costumes.
A set of dolls includes the Emperor(odairi-sama), the Empress(ohina-sama), three court ladies(sannin-kanjo), five court musicians(gonin-bayashi), the minister of the left(sadaijin), the minister of the right(udaijin) and three servants(sannin-jougo).
March 3 is Hinamatsuri. Already the preparations are ready, and you can hear the song of “Glad Hinamatsuri”. The song of this “Happy Hina Matsuri” was created in the Showa era, so it is not as old as you think. It’s a really good song, and we, the Japanese, feel good. Because this song is in minor. Japanese love songs in minor. However, Japanese people are never pessimists but elegant optimists.
At Inatori Onsen in Izu, there is a custom to decorate “hanging chicks” that has been passed down since the ancient times for the Hina festival. The old days, poor farmers and fishermen’s mothers and grandmothers celebrated the Doll’s Festival by hanging homemade dolls for their cute daughters. “Hanging chicks” have inherited that tradition.
At these days , we can hear the children’s song “Happy Hina Matsuri” at department stores and shopping streets. It is comfortable not only for children but also for adults. Rather, adults may be more comfortable. Because listening to this song will remind you of your childhood and make you miss it.
Strawberries are now available all year round. They are always on a Christmas cake and on shaved ice in summer, and are also an offering for the Hinamatsuri. Strawberries have a long history of interaction with humans and are known to have been consumed in the 4th century BC. Strawberries are a favorite with everyone because they are rich in vitamin C as well as nutrients and look beautiful.
This is a rare park where narcissus and plum are mixed. The narcissus flowers are over and now the green leaves are beautiful, and the plum blossoms are in full glory there. The lush green and pink contrast is really beautiful. Above all, the majestic and graceful double plum blossoms are noticeable. It’s still February but it’s the atmosphere in the height of the spring.