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Unread 02-23-2006, 01:30 PM
senshisteph
 
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Default Hina Matsuri - Japan

Georgeous displays of traditional dolls in department-store windows signal the approach of "Hina Matsuri", the Doll's Festival, a special day for girls. At this festival, celebrated on 3 March, families with girls display a set of "hina" dolls and miniature household articles on a stepped dais covered with a red cloth, and sometimes hold a party for their children.

The dolls are usually dressed in period costume and include an Emperor and Empress, ladies, ministers, musicians and footman. The dais on which they are displayed usually has five or seven tiers, and the total number of dolls is usually fifteen. The food and drink served at the party often includes "shirozake", (a sweet, slightly alcoholic beverage made from rice malt and sake) and "hishi-mochi" (lozenge-shaped rice cakes), fruit-shaped candy and small red-and-white rice cakes.

The festival is also known as "Momo-no-Sekku" or Peach Festival, because of the peach blossoms used to add extra color to the displays of dolls.

http://www.ginkoya.com/pages/girlsday.html
http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/holidays/Mar/hinamaturi.shtml

Could make paper dolls in wrapping-paper kimono, and tissue paper 'peach blossoms' to make your own hina display.

Last edited by senshisteph : 02-23-2006 at 01:54 PM.
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