Tag Archive for celebration

The Japanese Doll Festival — Girls’ Day

On March 3rd, Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival ) or Girls’ Day is celebrated in Japan. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (hina-ningyo) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period  (794-1192) — it is said that the custom of displaying…

Celebrating New Year Japanese-style with pine trees

Celebrating New Year with Kadomatsu

A traditional New Year decoration “kadomatsu” (literally, gate pine) are typically made of pine branches and bamboos and is placed on both sides of the entrance to the house (or a building). These pine branches serves as the welcome sign for this year’s God to come visit the house. To prepare for the coming year,…