Sami learned all about the day yesterday at school. Of course hearing it from a 5-year-old is sometimes confusing, so I did a little research of my own.
A set of hina dolls wearing ancient kimono is displayed at homes of Japanese girls. An ohina-sama doll (the Empress) and an odairi-sama doll (the Emperor) are set on the top shelf. Then, sannin-kanjo dolls (three court women), gonin bayashi dolls (five court musicians), and more dolls, and hina-arare (rice crackers) and hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes) are placed on other shelves. The day includes eating special food, such as chirashi-zushi (colorful sushi), clam soup and sakura mochi (sweet rice cakes).
Imagine my surprise when yesterday the Pastor's wife brought a little treat for the girls to celebrate this holiday.
These are made of what is similar to Moccina, a jelly-like rice cake with fresh fruit inside. But they are so cute I am not sure we can ever eat them.I can't wait to see what the next holiday holds.
