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Bits of knowledge - Another name of the doll's festival, the seasonal festival of peach
Another name of the doll's festival, the seasonal festival of peach
In Japan, the dolls festival is also known as the seasonal festival of peach.
How did this festival begin?
The festival was originally one of the five seasonal festivals. This tradition came from China. The festival meant to be for drive out evils when seasons change. Thus in the ancient days Japanese people ate herbs in the season in order to take in the power of fresh foods.
- Five seasonal festivals and herbs
- 1/7 : Nanakusa gayu (rice gruel mixed with the seven herbs of Spring)
- 3/3 : Peach, Yomogi
- 5/5 : Iris
- 7/7 : Bamboo, Squash
- 9/9 : Chrysanthemum
Why peaches?
It is believed that the peaches have a power to avoid evils.
Izanagi beat back a devil from hell by throwing peaches in A Record of Ancient
Matters. Also, the peaches are considered as the fruit of perpetual youth
and longevity. The peaches have various folk tales. Therefore the peach
has chosen as one of herbs of the seasonal festivals.
The season of peach is also the season of Yomogi, a kind of Japanese herb. It is used on the seasonal festival of tango, the children's day of modern time. This herb is also well known as the plant that have a power to avoid evil. The rice cake that displayed on hina dolls set has three colors,
green, red and white. Green one is Yomogi flavored and symbolizes health, red one is peach flavored and represents charm against evil, and white one means purity.
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