"First Hinamatsuri" What should you do to celebrate a girl's first Doll's Festival?

The Hatsu-sekku is a traditional Japanese event and marks the first special milestone a girl experiences after her birth.

Hinamatsuri, also known as Girls' Festival, which falls on March 3rd, is an event where relatives and family gather together to pray for the healthy growth and happiness of girls.

This event has a long history dating back to the Nara period, and celebrations are held around decorated hina dolls and gorgeously decorated dining tables.

The most important part of this event is when families express their wishes for the baby celebrating his or her first Doll Festival to grow up healthy.

The word "peach" used in the phrase "Girls' Festival" has the meaning of warding off evil and praying for longevity, and as it is held in Japan during the spring season, it is also seen as a symbol of celebrating the beginning of new life.

Many Hina dolls are designed to reflect the court culture of the Heian period, with the Emperor and Empress placed on the top tier.

This is meant to convey the idea that the goddess will take on the baby's misfortunes in his place.

When celebrating the first festival, families gather together to express their gratitude for the child being born.

On Hinamatsuri, traditional dishes such as chirashi sushi, clam soup, and hishi mochi are served, creating an occasion for the whole family to enjoy.

It is also common to have family photos taken in front of the Hina dolls as a ritual to pray for the baby's growth.

Hina dolls are an essential decoration for a girl's first festival, and are usually put up between late January and early February .

Since Hina Matsuri falls on March 3rd, it's a good idea to have all your preparations done at least a few weeks before then.

Hina dolls represent the wish for girls to grow up healthy and live happy lives, and also serve the role of warding off evil spirits .

Traditionally, the Emperor and Empress are placed on the top tier, with three court ladies below them.

Each of these dolls and props has a meaning and is displayed in a way that recreates life in the palace.

However, in modern homes, compact and modern-looking dolls are becoming more and more popular.

It is also customary to put away the Hina dolls promptly after March 3rd .

There is a legend that if you leave it up for too long, your daughter's marriage will be delayed, so you need to be careful about when you take it down.

Having the whole family work together to decorate and then take down the gifts will make preparing for the first festival an even more enjoyable memory.

Chirashi sushi, a traditional celebratory dish, is an essential part of celebrating the first festival.

Chirashi sushi's bright colours make it the perfect dish for Hinamatsuri and it's a dish the whole family can enjoy.

Chirashi sushi is made with shrimp, shredded egg, lotus root, salmon roe, and other ingredients, each of which represents a certain meaning such as "longevity," "prosperity," or "vision for the future."

Also, family photos will be an important memento of the first festival.

By taking photos celebrating your baby's growth with the Hina dolls in the background, you can keep the moment in your memory forever.

Photos of the whole family together will not only be treasured memories for the future, but will also be a joy to look back on when your baby grows up.

The most important part of the celebration is having the whole family gathered around the table and making memories through cooking and taking photos.

Especially since this is your baby's first celebratory event, it's a good idea for the whole family to discuss and decide how to enjoy this day.

The most typical gift for the first festival is a Hina doll .

Hina dolls are traditionally given by grandparents as a symbol of prayers for the baby's growth.

In particular, luxurious dolls such as seven-tiered and three-tiered dolls are often chosen, but recently, compact and modern designs that suit the space available have also become popular.

When choosing for your family, it's important to consider a style that suits your baby and matches the room's décor.

Traditional clothing such as hifugi (traditional Japanese kimono) are also popular gifts for the first festival.

The gorgeous design of the hifu robes accentuates the cuteness of young girls and they look especially great when taking photos during Hinamatsuri.

They come in a variety of colors and designs, and in addition to traditional red and pink, there are also an increasing number of modern pastel colors and unique patterns.

Choosing a special outfit to make the first festival memorable will be fun for the whole family.

Additionally, personalized gifts have become very popular these days.

Practical yet memorable items such as towels and tableware sets with the baby's name on them, or even personalized bibs and blankets, will be appreciated.

These items are often given by grandparents as things that the baby can use even after he or she grows up, and they are intended to be a lasting memento of a special day .

When choosing a gift, it is most important to include the family's feelings in it .

The gift should not just be formal, but should reflect the sentiment of the whole family to celebrate the baby's future.

Therefore, when choosing a gift, it is a good idea to discuss it with the whole family and choose something that will be a memorable gift for the baby.

Choosing the right costume for Hinamatsuri is an important element in bringing out the cuteness of your baby.

The traditional costume, the hifugi, is the most popular symbolic outfit for Hinamatsuri.

This hifu garment has its roots in clothing originally worn by samurai in the Edo period, and is characterized by its sleeveless haori-like design.

It is especially suitable for young girls up to 3 years old, as it not only allows them ease of movement but also adds a touch of glamour when taking photos.

The standard colors for haori are the traditional red and pink , but in recent years designs incorporating pastel colors and unique patterns have also become popular.

In addition, light and soft materials are often chosen, so it is important to choose with your baby's comfort in mind.

Recently, there has been an increase in modern haori kimonos decorated with lace and embroidery , and styles that combine tradition and modern design are also attracting attention.

When choosing an outfit, it is important that it is appropriate for your baby to be comfortable while still appearing to be in a Hinamatsuri-themed outfit.

It is especially important to choose clothes that are easy to put on and take off , and that are made from materials that will not cause stress to your baby even when worn for long periods of time.

Also, when dressing your child in a costume, choosing the right headwear and accessories will create an even more glamorous look.

Costumes will have a big impact on commemorative photos, so it's fun for the whole family to choose them together .

A traditional haori outfit can make the celebration even more special, while a more modern design can reflect your baby's personality and your family's style.

Whatever you choose, it will be an important choice in making your baby's first Hinamatsuri a memorable one .

The amount of money given by grandparents to celebrate the first Doll Festival is generally considered to be in the range of 50,000 to 300,000 yen .

This amount varies depending on the family situation and regional differences, particularly the extent to which the grandparents are involved in the celebration and the purchase of the dolls.

If the amount of the gift money is large, it is often used to purchase a Hina doll , and it is common for grandparents to give it as a way to help with some of the preparations for the first festival.

Recently, it has also become common to give gifts in addition to monetary gifts .

Popular gifts from grandparents include memorable items such as personalized towels, tableware, bibs, and blankets.

Personalized gifts, in particular, are often given as a symbol of a baby's special day and are popular as practical items that can be used even as the baby grows.

When giving a gift or money, what's important is the feeling of celebrating the baby's growth with the whole family , rather than the amount or value of the item.

As a result, more and more families are placing emphasis on creating family togetherness and memories rather than on giving lavish gifts.

Furthermore, the congratulatory money and gifts from grandparents and other relatives are not just material gifts, but are seen as an expression of their prayers for the baby's healthy growth .

The timing of celebrating the first birthday is generally on Hinamatsuri ( Girls' Day) on March 3rd, but the date is often adjusted depending on the baby's health and the family's schedule.

It is not necessary to stick to this date, especially for newborn babies or babies born in winter, as their health may be unstable.

The baby's health is the top priority , so it is recommended to choose a time when the whole family can be together and when all your health is stable.

For example, many families hold their first Doll Festival for girls born in February or January the following year .

This has the advantage that the baby will grow and become more healthy, and the family will have more time to prepare for the celebration.

It is also common for family members to live far away and to hold the celebration on a date that works for everyone.

The important thing is to celebrate the baby's healthy growth , so it's important to be flexible and not be tied to strict dates.

Furthermore, if you are unable to celebrate on the actual day of Hinamatsuri, you can also decorate the house with dolls and hold a simple celebration at home .

The essence of the Hatsu-sekku festival is for the whole family to come together and celebrate the baby's growth .

The key to success is to take into account your health and schedule and adjust your schedule within reasonable limits.

It's especially important to create an environment where the whole family can relax and have fun.

It is common to start displaying Hina dolls from late January to early February .

By starting to decorate at this time, you can make preparations well before Hinamatsuri.

It is also considered auspicious to start decorating after Setsubun (February 3rd), and this preparation period holds great significance for families celebrating their baby's first Sekku festival.

In the traditional arrangement of Hina dolls, the Emperor and Empress are placed on the top tier, and in the case of a three-tiered display, the three court ladies are lined up below them.

These dolls and props play an important role in warding off evil and praying for the baby's happiness .

Hina dolls are not just decorations, but important objects that represent the love and wishes of families.

In modern homes, compact designs and modern style Hina dolls are popular.

This allows you to choose a design that perfectly suits your living room or Japanese-style room space, depending on your housing situation and lifestyle.

For example, in addition to the traditional three-tiered display, many families also enjoy simple decorations that blend in with the interior and styles with decorations behind the dolls.

On the other hand, just as important as the timing of displaying the Hina dolls is the timing of taking them down .

It is common to put away the dolls immediately after Hinamatsuri is over, and there is an old saying that if you leave the dolls on display for too long, your daughter will be delayed in getting married .

In conclusion, Hina dolls are important symbols of a baby's first Doll Festival, and decorating them together as a family deepens the meaning of the festival.

By choosing a Hina doll that fits the modern style and displaying it at the right time, you can create a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to celebrate their growth.

The meal celebrating the first Doll Festival will focus on traditional dishes, but the key is to prepare easy recipes that the whole family can enjoy.

The most common type is chirashi sushi , and its vibrant appearance and variety of ingredients brighten up any dinner table.

Each ingredient in chirashi sushi, such as shrimp, lotus root, salmon roe, and shredded egg, is imbued with wishes for longevity and prosperity .

Not only is it easy to make, but you can also adjust the ingredients to suit your tastes, making it a dish that can be easily incorporated into any household.

Additionally, clam soup is an essential accompaniment to chirashi sushi.

Clams are a food that symbolizes marital harmony and family ties , as once they are bonded, they never separate.

This soup is simple to make and can be easily prepared even on busy days.

To create a special feeling that is unique to Hinamatsuri, you can add decoratively cut carrots and mitsuba (Japanese parsley) to make it even more colorful.

Other sweets such as hishi mochi and hina arare add color to the first festival table.

These sweets are coloured in red to symbolise warding off evil, white to symbolise purity and green to symbolise health , so the whole family can enjoy them together.

For dessert, it would be a good idea to prepare something easy to make, such as fruit punch made with seasonal fruits or jelly.

The first festival meal is an important time to deepen family bonds through cooking.

The food doesn't have to be elaborate, just enjoy the fun of cooking it together as a family .

For example, by preparing the ingredients for chirashi sushi together as a family, the family can become united from the preparation stage onwards and share a celebratory feeling.

The first festival is a special day to celebrate the baby's growth, and the photo shoot is an important part of the event.

While professional photography in a studio is great, many families also choose to have their photos taken in a natural setting at home .

Speaking of studio photography, the biggest attraction is that you can get high-quality photos taken by a professional photographer.

In particular, the studio is equipped with elements that will enhance the special feeling of Hinamatsuri, such as costumes such as the traditional hifugi robes worn by babies, and a gorgeous background set.

On the other hand, the advantage of having a photoshoot at home is that you can preserve the natural atmosphere of your family .

The appeal of this option is that your baby can be photographed in a relaxed state, with the Hina dolls displayed in the living room as a backdrop, resulting in natural, warm photos.

The point of a photo shoot, whatever the style, is for the whole family to relax and have fun .

Whether you do it in the studio or at home, it will be your baby's first Hinamatsuri and it's important to make it a special memory.

Giving a gift in return to grandparents and relatives who celebrated your child's first Doll Festival is an important act of expressing gratitude.

A thank you note or a practical gift is a typical way to return the gift.

First of all, it is recommended that you write your thank you letter by hand to ensure it feels special.

In particular, it is a good idea to express your gratitude to your grandparents as a parent, and to express your thanks for watching over your baby's growth.

Additionally, items with names on them are popular as gifts.

Symbolic items of the baby, such as towels, dishes or photo frames with the baby's name on them, can be special keepsakes for grandparents.

These gifts will be appreciated by families as they allow them to watch their baby grow for a long time.

In terms of timing, it is customary to give a gift in return after the first festival dinner and celebrations are over .

For example, by handing over a gift along with a word of thanks at the end of a meal, you can directly convey your gratitude on the spot.

The amount and content of the gift will vary depending on the family and region, but simple, heartfelt gifts that convey gratitude are often more appreciated than gifts that are too extravagant.

The key to a successful First Festival is to get the whole family involved in planning and making preparations .

The important thing is how to choose your Hina dolls and when to display them.

It is ideal to prepare food including traditional chirashi sushi and clam soup and celebrate with the whole family.

Photography is also an essential way to commemorate the first festival.

You can choose a professional shoot in a studio or a more natural shoot at home, but the important thing is that the whole family is relaxed and having fun .

Also, don't forget to express your gratitude in return for any congratulations from your grandparents and relatives.

Sending a heartfelt thank you note or a personalized gift can help strengthen the bonds between the whole family.

The essence of the Hatsu-Sekku celebration is for the whole family to enjoy it without getting too caught up in formalities.

Let's work together as a family and make this important first event for your baby a success with love and cooperation.