Doll Festival - Hina Matsuri

Lately, I have been so busy with the preparation of Jikiden Reiki Vancouver seminar
with Mr. Tadao Yamaguchi...

I realized that I have not write my blog for over 2 weeks!

Today, I would like to write about "Doll Festival", in Japanese we call 

"Hina Matsuri"

"Hina Matsuri" takes place on March 3rd, and celebrates "Girls Day". Today is the day families pray for the happiness and prosperity for their daughters and to help ensure that they grow up healthy and beautiful. (Well, we pray everyday, not only March 3rd.)

Displaying the dolls are meant to ward off evil spirits from girls
and wish children's happiness in future.

People display dolls in a certain way.

This is one of the full 7 rows expensive set.

Happy couple on the top, 

three ladies (Kanjo or Miko) in the second row, 

five musicians (Gonin Bayashi) in the third row, 

some foods,

three body guards (zuijin) in the 5th row,

then some furnitures.

I don't have the full set like this, but I have this cute ones!

Hina doll sets always has a happy couple on the top.

These three ladies in the second row are "Kanjo" or "Miko"
Mikos are there to support the happy couple.

This set only came with the couple. 

He looks a bit serious while she looks easy going.

That might be the key for a happy marriage ?

 This is a cute set for cat lovers.

 This is my special display.

When my daughter was born, my friend, Wakana, made this paper art

to celebrate my daughter's first doll festival.


This is not a drawing!

Paper art is another Japanese culture, called Chigiri-eh.

Cut and paste coloured papers to make art.

Some towns in Japan, they make straw dolls like this. 

Bring it to the river or ocean and let them float, 

so then the doll will take the troubles away from children.  

I just love those little customs in Japan.  

In Jikiden Reiki class, we always talk about "Miko"


Because Miko(巫) is a part of kanji charactor of Reiki 靈氣。

Old days, Miko were the ladies who serve for god. 

Old days, Miko were like spiritual midiums who receive messages from god and

passed the message to people to help open up their life path.
They took important to role in humans lives.

These are Mikos in Hina Doll display.

They are Mikos in real life.

Accept, not expect, is the key for happy relationship, I think.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Hina Matsuri !!!