March 3rd is the traditional Japanese Daughter's Day. At this time, families with girls will wear palace dolls with exquisite workmanship and gorgeous shapes, wishing girls happiness, peace and healthy growth.
Daughter's Day has a long history in Japan and is called "Young Festival" in Japanese. Because the third day of March in the lunar calendar is the season when peach blossoms bloom, it is also called "Peach Blossom Festival". Many Japanese believe that Daughter's Day originated in China, and today's festival is formed after the integration of Japanese native culture.
According to Japanese historical records, during the Heian period in the 8th century, the game of changing clothes for dolls was popular among aristocratic women in the upper court of Kyoto (then the center of Japan), and then the custom of throwing dolls into the river for good luck appeared. During the Edo period, the shogunate officially designated March 3rd as Daughter's Day. On this day, the Japanese will hold a grand celebration to pray for the healthy growth of girls.
The placement of dolls is the biggest feature of Daughter's Day. These palace dolls in brocade clothes are famous for their exquisite beauty and exquisite craftsmanship. The placement of girls' day dolls is very particular. On the special altar, there are generally three layers, five layers and seven layers arranged in odd numbers. The top floor of a standard doll altar is the "Emperor and Queen Mother", and the following floors can be equipped with three female officials, five children, attendants and page attendants who are responsible for playing music as needed. At the same time, dolls should be decorated with "peach blossoms, lanterns, dressing tables and daily necessities", and some places will also put food such as white wine and diamond cakes in their habits.
Many dolls released on Daughter's Day were given by elders. In the past, it even became an important dowry for women when they got married. Nowadays, grandparents usually prepare red envelopes in advance so that young couples can buy dolls according to their own wishes. Generally, girls' day dolls will be put away a few days before March 3, and put away in time for next year. It is said that once the doll is left for too long, it will affect the daughter's marriage.
From the doll specifications of Daughter's Day, we can often judge a family's wealth and social status, which is also a true reflection of Japan's economic development. In 1970s and 1980s, Japan's economy developed rapidly, and the number of dolls and luxury goods reached their peak. If the ancestors were famous families, the dolls placed at home even have a history of hundreds of years and can be listed as special cultural relics designated by the state.