Japanese Tradition

Hina Matsuri, the Dolls Festival, is dedicated to daughters in the family. It symbolizes our wish for our daughters to grow up healthy, surrounded by love and happiness. (Don't worry, we have Boys' Day on 5th May!)

 

 

It is a traditional custom for the family to gift this Hina dolls (Hina-ningyō) set when a daughter is born to wish her healthy growth, happiness and prosperity. Every year, we carefully display them before  3 March. This process of putting the dolls out is such a joy and creating bonds in the family.  Every piece of what you see are so delicate and wrapped in paper and has a box and is stored beautifully. I remember every small detail of this piece and even the small instruments that dolls hold. 

 

A central feature of this festival is a grand display of a set of dolls on red fabric. In my family home, we continue to showcase the Hina dolls, accompanied by delicate pink peach blossoms and auspicious symbolic foods for this festival -Chirashi sushi, strawberry and cakes. These symbolic foods brings extra joyful vibe and festivity to the family.

 

 

What are these dolls? 

They are the depiction of the Imperial wedding of the Heian Era (794-1185)

The top tier of the traditional Hina dolls (Hina-ningyō) display shows the Emperor and Empress (Odairi-sama and Ohina-sama) dressed in Heian-era court attire.

The arrangement of dolls and decorations symbolizes a Heian wedding procession or a noble court scene:

• 1st tier: Emperor & Empress (representing a harmonious marriage)

• 2nd tier: Three court ladies (Sannin Kanjo) serving sake

• 3rd tier: Five male musicians (Gonin Bayashi)

• 4th tier: Two ministers (Udaijin and Sadaijin)

• 5th tier: Helpers or guards with various props

 

 Why do we celebrate?

3 March is one of the Japanese Five Dates of Seasonal Transitions (Sekku) in the lunisolar calendar: 1/7, 3/3, 5/5, 7/7, and 9/9. According to Shinto tradition, these dates are believed to to mark shifts in nature’s energy, making people more vulnerable to illness or misfortune. The 3/3 date is special because the number 3 is considered to carry the luck, and doubling it (3rd day of the 3rd month) amplifies that energy. 3rd March is called Momo no Sekku, the transition of the season with the Peach blossoms, later with Hina dolls tradition and it is called also Hina Matsuri - Hina dolls festivals. It is a time to celebrate growth, femininity, and protection from bad spirits and purification ceremonies and rituals were performed to cleanse negativity, raise personal vibrations, and enhance our life force energy flow. (I explore this topic extensively in my book!)

 

The dolls used in Hina Matsuri originally evolved from Hitogata — simple paper dolls used in purification rituals. People would transfer their misfortunes to the dolls and set them afloat on rivers to carry away bad luck. Over time, this practice blended with the aristocratic custom of playing with dolls (Hina-asobi). By the Edo period (1603-1868), the tradition had become more elaborate, symbolizing court life and noble weddings, with Hina doll displays reflecting the elegance and structure of a Heian-era imperial ceremony.

 

It is a part of Yoshuku — a pre-celebration – wish and appreciation for the life of a girl in the family. (In my book - YOSHUKU - the Japanese Art of Manifesting, I explain deeper on this concept!) 

 

 

How you can adopt as a ritual for your healing journey....

 

I feel profound love and deep appreciation for my parents and ancestors when I see my parents putting the Hina dolls on display each year. It's not just about displaying these beautiful dolls, but about the process of showing their love and care. In Japan, we don't express our feelings as openly as in many Western countries, especially when it comes to parents and children. Additionally, discipline and structure are central to upbringing. However, their love and devotion are expressed in countless ways, often going unnoticed until late

 

 For me, personally, this tradition has become a powerful symbol of love, abundance, joy, beauty, elegance, creativity, and protection. It has been the day to feel the love and care from my family—my parents, grandparents, brother and relatives. What make it powerful is that all the daughters are celebrated nationally and this collective energy is powerful.

 

First of all, you can create your own festivity with your own daughters, making a nice ritual. For us, grown up women, we can use this day to show appreciation to our family, healing our childhood wounds and expand our loving caring feminine energy with light.

 

Every family has its dynamics, challenges, and complexities. We may carry painful memories from childhood and sometimes harbor resentment or anger toward our parents. It’s easy to focus on such moments and try hard to erase them. However, we all have beautiful memories we've shared with our family.

 

We have the power to amplify those uplifting experiences in our present energy, rather than being weighed down by past pain, darkness, and letting it diminish our own beautiful light. Ultimately, it’s our choice to decide what we are grateful for, appreciate, and expand its energy. I hope you can adopt this spirit into your own ritual on 3 March.

 

Much love, 

 

Azumi Uchitani

 

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 Flower arrangement is also part of the festival and pretty peach blossoms complete the scene.

Together with the family, we eat Chirashi sushi and strawberry were at the table. 

March is filled with pink and red and all soft and joyful energy.

 

In my birthplace, Wakayama, renowned for its natural beauty and spirituality, we participate in the annual traditional ceremony called Hina Nagashi at Awashima Shrine, dedicated to the divine goddess. Since spirits reside in dolls, we don't discard unwanted dolls in the trash. Instead, we express gratitude for their presence, take them to the shrine, and seek healing from the Shinto priest. The dolls are then returned to the sea, the place where their spirits belong.

 

Simultaneously, we purify ourselves by releasing unwanted energies that may lead to illness and misfortunes and send them away with the dolls.

 

If you find yourself in Japan, it's truly worth a visit.