March 3: Girls' Day
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Hinamatsuri Dolls
Today is Girls’ Day or Hinamatsuri in Japan. And we’ll be celebrating it at our house by putting up our hina dolls and having festival foods. As Japanese Canadians growing up in Alberta, we never celebrated Girls’ Day. So why do I celebrate it now? Two reasons – because I have a daughter and feel it is important to transmit to her the customs of her heritage culture. And because, it’s also just fun!
March 3 in Japan feels like spring and the peach blossoms that decorate the array of hina dolls displayed for the day make it feel all the more that way. Here in wintry Canada, blossoms are still far off, but celebrating Girls’ Day here helps me anticipate the season. Of course, we’ve made adjustments to the differences in climate. Instead of the clam broth or chirashizushi that is traditionally served on Girls’ Day, I usually make a thick and hearty clam chowder that’s good for fending off a ‘liony’ March wind. And I sometimes buy tulips for the table — the first flowers to appear in grocery stores around here that signal the coming season.
Have you ever celebrated a traditional festival day with your kids that you never celebrated growing up? Do tell!
