A Doll Festival

 In Japan on March 3^rd, the Hina Matsuri, Doll’s Festival, is celebrated.  This is a day to pray for a young girl’s growth and happiness.  On this day girls host a party of tea and poetry for their friends and they serve little pink and green diamond shaped mochi (rice) cakes.

At the party is a display of dolls.  These aren’t dolls that the girls play with everyday but instead heirlooms that have been passed down for generations.  The display is a tier of shelves with dolls representing the members of the imperial court in ancient court costumes as well as pieces of furniture, small meal dishes and other things.

This used to be one occasion when little girls had their own parties.  The set was brought out for the day and quickly put away after March 3^rd.  (It was thought that if it was not put away immediately the girl would have trouble marrying.)

No one really knows where the origin of this holiday came from but it is thought that it actually started with the Shinto religion.  On March 3^rd a folded paper doll resembling a kimono known as a Kata Shiro would be cast into water and with it the user’s sins, illness and bad luck. 

 I like the idea of a day to pray for young girls (there is a similar day for boys in May) but what really intrigues me is the doll display.  I have one baby doll of my mother’s and much of her miniature doll furniture.  I actually have some of the pieces displayed on furniture in my living room.  The furniture while made of plastic is very well made.  My favorite piece is a sewing machine which folds down into a cabinet just like the old Singer sewing machines did.  And when you turn the knob on the side of the machine, the little “needle” goes up and down.

Maybe if there is a special little girl in your life, you could tell her about the Doll Festival and find a way to display her dolls or toys on March 3rd.  The dolls and toys might not have the significance of a imperial court but it might show her that her possessions are just as important as she is. 

©2018, 2023- Cheryl E. Fillion

Festival of Broken Needles

 There is a Buddhist festival that takes place in Japan on February 8 called the Needle Festival or the Festival of Broken Needles (Harikuyo).  There is an old Buddhist belief that even inanimate objects have a soul and to discard an object that has been used for so long is disrespectful.  So throughout the year broken pins and needles are saved and on February 8^th they are taken to a temple to be blessed before they are properly ‘rested’. It is thought that if you blessed the needles, the energy of the needle will make the owner a better stitcher.

 

I like this idea.  Have you ever thought of the work our pins and needles do for us?  Yes we are the one who guides them into the fabric but they are the ones who actually do the stitching.  And when you have trouble threading a needle – do you blame the needle, the thread, or the Stitcher?  Yeah, I thought so; you blame the needle.

 

So on this day of the Needle Festival, take a look at your needles and pins.  Do they need to be cleaned?  Do you have a nice pin cushion to store the needles you use?  Maybe one with wool or sand which will help clean and keep sharp the needles. Maybe today is the day to buy a gift for your needles and pins.  And maybe refrain from stitching for the day and give them a day of rest.

 

Happy Needle Festival.

©2018, 2023- Cheryl E. Fillion