Toy Festivals & Ceremonies

Japan has festivals and ceremonies they still celebrate that involve some of their more traditional toys.

The Hina Matsuri Festival is a tradition in which Hina dolls are paraded. The Hina Matsuri Festival is celebrated every third day of the third month. This day on the Shinto calendar is a day for purification.

The festival was established in 1687 and the dolls were used in the purification rites. The purification ritual is performed by breathing on the dolls, rubbing them against one’s body and then throwing the dolls into a river. This ritual is believed to transfer all impurities in the body to the Hina doll and thus cleansing oneself. Nowadays, Hina Matsuri, more commonly known as Girls Day, is now an occasion celebrated to pray for young Japanese girls’ growth and happiness.

Held throughout Japan are various kite or tako festivals. Takos are not only flown for fun but are used during religious festivals, public holidays and on New Year.  There are several regions in Japan that hold tako festivals. However, the grandest kite festival is the Hamamatsu Kite Festival where huge kites battle each other in the sky.

Every beginning of a new year, Daruma dolls are used in one of Japan’s custom. Upon making a wish, it is customary to paint one of the pupils and should the wish come true then the second pupil of the doll can then be painted.