Hina Matsuri

Happy Hina Matsuri Day to all my young nieces out there.  I'd say it to the rest of you too, but in Japan March 3rd is Girls Day festival.  Hina (doll) matsuri (festival) is how they celebrate this tradition which dates back a couple hundred years.  Traditionally there was a ceremony where the sins of a person were transferred to a doll and then that doll was set float down a river.  (I'm not sure how many sins a three year old girl can have, but I guess for all those times she hit her brother or stole his Matchbox, she shall be forgiven.) But I think now a days it is more celebrated by families displaying a cadre of dolls each with meaning.

I took a class last week where we made an oragami hina and the teacher told us some interesting things about the day.  First, it is a day set aside to pray for your little girl's health and wellbeing, and most importantly her ability to find a good husband.  The elaborate doll displays can have up to 7 layers, starting with the Emperor and Empress on the top level then having attendants, musicians, carriages, cherry blossoms, rice cakes, etc.  The idea is that you want your daughter to marry a wealthy family so that she can be the princess at the top.  Some of these displays can cost $10,000!

But the average family would more likely go to the department store, Jusco, and purchase a single or double layered display (still pricey at around $800).  I just went to gawk today with Emmy.  Of course the display was right near the toy section where my daughter wandered of to check out the cars!

I also learned that on this day you're supposed to eat clam soup.  The clam symbolizes the perfect pairing of a man and a woman.  As the teacher explained only two shells perfectly come together to make a clam shell, so the thought is only one woman and one man will fit together to form a perfect union.  When I found out that the recipe went something like "Take some clams and boil them, maybe add some onions or cabbage."  I decided not to treat the family to this tonight!  I had flashbacks to my New Years soup which was something less than stellar and had way more ingredients than this!