Hinamatsuri
We think that Hinamatsuri first originated 1,000 years ago in China. The first Hinamatsuri was the Nagashi – bina (floating paper dolls down a river) where they made dolls out of straw and floated them down the river.
They believed that as the doll floated down the river, it would take all of their bad luck and ill - fortune with them. They did this so as to celebrate the girls growth, health, and happiness.
Then later, they would make it a traditional custom to make the dolls prettier and to make it as the main festival in March. They would make the dolls on top of a scarlet cloth and on tiers of shelves and dress the dolls as they would in an ancient court. A full set of dolls would have 15 dolls. The Emperor and Empress at the top, the three ladies in-waiting underneath them, the five musicians underneath the ladies in-waiting, and the three guards at the bottom.
On the day of the festival, the girls would invite their friends and would have a party and have a good time drinking sweet, mild rice wine and eating diamond shaped, three-layered rice cakes. The white frosting means snow, the green is for new growth, and the pink is for peach flowers. There is a song that goes with all of this. I will present it to you.
Akari o tsukema sho bon bori ni
O hana o agemasyo momo no hana
Gonin – bayashi no fue taiko
Kyoo wa tanoshii Hinamatsuri
The general translation is this:
(The following translations can be read by Japanese compatible soft ware.)
ひなまつりは 千年まえに ちゅうごくで、はじまったおまつりです。 はじめは、ながしびなでした。 ながしびなといっしょに わるいびょうきや、ふこうが、ながされるとしんじられていました。女の子が、げんきで、大きくなるようにと、ねがうおまつりです。
おひなさまは、１５のにんぎょうから できています。おだいりさま、おひなさま、さんにんかんじょ、ごにんばやし、うだいじん、さだいじん、そして、さんにんのけらいです。
女の子は、おともだちをよんで、ひしもちや、おまざけをのんで、パーティをします。
By: AJ
April 2001