Zagreb’s Museum of Etnography and Embassy of Japan in Croatia have organized a program that aims to educate locals and tourists about Hinamatsuri- traditional Japanese doll festival celebrated on March 3rd. also known as Girl’s Day (there’s also a Boy’s Day).
Tradition passed on from Heidan period sees Hina dolls placed on platforms covered with a red carpet, each step representing a caste on a royal wedding, starting with the emperor and empress on the top step and ending on lowest, fifth step that holds three helpers or samurai (some iterations have up to seven steps, the last two holding items used by the court). In between you’ll find ministers, musicians, ladies of the court et al.
People used to believe that these dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits. Hinamatsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi (doll floating) in which straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them. From Heidan period onward, hinas are made from porcelain and dressed in materials used for kimonos.
The dolls in Hinamatsuri are also used for capturing bad spirits, and insuring that girls have a fruitful and blessed life ahead, and that they marry well.
The Hinamatsuri doll festival exhibition will be set up until March 3rd, with special programs during this weekend.
Saturday, February 27th
11 – 12 am
Tea ceremony workshop for grown ups
Origami workshops for children
12 am
Presentation of different aspects of Japanese culture
01 pm
Learning basic structures of Japanese language
Sunday, February 28th
11 – 12:30 am
Origami and language workshops for children and adults
All events are free to attend, but if you want to actively participate in workshops, you need to send an RSVP at [email protected].
27.2. SUBOTA
11 – 12 sati: ceremonija čaja ZA ODRASLE (Prijave na [email protected])
11 – 12 sati: radionica origamija ZA DJECU (Prijave na [email protected])
12 sati: prezentacija japanske kuhinje ZA DJECU I ODRASLE (Prijave na [email protected])
13 sati: upoznavanje s japanskim jezikom ZA DJECU I ODRASLE (Prijave na [email protected])
28.2. NEDJELJA
11 – 12.30 sati: radionica origamija i japanskog jezika ZA DJECU I ODRASLE (Prijave na [email protected])
Ulaz na sva događanja je besplatan.
