Doll's Day Delights | Hina Matsuri, Japan

Yesterday was Hina Matsuri in Japan, also known as Girl’s Day or Doll’s day in English. The celebration of this festival is a traditional way to pray for the health of a young girl. When a baby girl is born, parents often prepare dolls before her first Hina Matsuri. Then, every year a display is put up in the house. The top of the three-tiered platform has an emperor and empress doll. Surrounding them are court ladies, court musicians and items usually associated with marriage, such as tea ceremony utensils and personal effects that a wife would take to her new home. However, this display must be put away before the 3^rd March, otherwise it is said that the girls will not be able to get married.

As in all cases, what really interests me about this festival is the food! I work in a school, and our special school lunch consisted of chirashizushi and hina arare. Chirashizushi consists of sushi rice with vinegar and sugar topped with raw fish and sometimes vegetables. Hina arare are small sweetened rice flour crackers. There are four colours of rice crackers to represent the four seasons, bringing good luck to the girls all year round.

Hina Arare

On my way home I was passing my local patisserie when some colourful cakes caught my eye. These beautiful cakes are a less traditional way to celebrate girl’s day, and feature a chocolate emperor and empress beside some beautiful plum blossom. The cake was extremely creamy and delicious, but the decorations reminded me of the lovely attention to detail that Japan has when they celebrate their wonderful traditions.

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