Girls' Day

The Girls’ Day as well as the Boys’ Day is one of the five most important calendar festivals. This festival known as dzyosi (the third day of the third month dedicated to the zodiac sign of the Snake) as well as the momo-no sekku (“The festival of blossoming peach trees”) originates from the ancient rituals of magical purification during which various "evil influences" were transferred from a person to a doll that was than thrown into a river. This ritual is of Chinese origin and was practiced at the Emperor's court in the Heian era (794-1185), and later spread throughout the country.

Much later, in the Edo era (1600 - 1868), when the power was no more exercised by the Emperor, but was in the hands of the Tokugawa shogunate, in the family of the latter there emerged a tradition to build a seven-level "pyramid" on that day which consisted of ritual dolls (hina-ningyo) depicting the Emperor's court. On top, near a golden screen dairi-sama (lit. "the masters of the forbidden palace", i.e. the Emperor and the Empress) sit, below them - maids of honor, musicians, officers of the palace guards, court servants, toy trees depicting blossoming wild orange and sakura (the symbol of maiden beauty), and below - toy accessories of the Emperor's palace: varnished furniture, depictions of ritual meals and aristocratic vehicles (a palanquin and a carriage with a harnessed buffalo). In the times of the Tokugawa shogunate, the ritual with the use of such toy set symbolized the introduction of a young lady to the Heian Emperor's court.

This ritual was called hina-matsuri - Dolls' Day - and by the end of the Edo era it spread throughout the country. It was celebrated on the third day of the third month (end of March - beginning of April) according to the lunar calendar, and with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1871 it was fixed for March, 3rd.

Despite its popularity, Doll's Day is not a public holiday, but a family celebration. On this day in all families where there are girls toy "pyramids" are installed, or at least the two main dolls - those of the Emperor and the Empress. Girls are dressed up in festive kimonos, they receive presents and meals are prepared. There are special songs, children dances and games dedicated to Dolls' Day.

"Empress" doll. Japan. The Japanese. 1980s.		Set of dolls fro Girls' Day. Museum exposition		"Emperor" Doll. Japan. The Japanese. 1980s.
Girls's Festival. Japan. The Japanese, mid-to-late 19th c.		New Year gifts. Japan. The Japanese, mid-to-late 19th c.		New Year's day. Japan. The Japanese, mid-to-late 19th c.
Box "carabyzu" Japan, 20th century