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Hinamatsuri (girls’ day)
March 3, 2023
Momo no Sekku is a traditional Japanese event, also known as the Peach Flower Festival as well as the Doll Festival. It celebrates the healthy growth of girls. It started as a seasonal festival in the Heian period in Kyoto and its origin comes from girls’ doll play.
Art (ALL DAY):
Exploration No. 1> Help us decorate our peach blossom branch using pink paint and egg cartons so that we can ward off malevolent spirits!
Exploration No. 2> Use origami paper to fold or cut out a lovely doll to take home or add to our community display!
Exploration No. 3 (Sensory Table)> Explore puffed rice cereal and figurines in our sensory bin!
Story Time (TIMES 11:00a & 2:30p): Yoko’s Show and Tell by Rosemary Wells
Synopsis: When Yoko’s grandparents send her a beautiful antique doll named Miki all the way from Japan, Yoko couldn’t be happier!
Hina means doll and matsuri means festival, so Hina Matsuri (雛祭り) is literally Doll Festival (also called Girls’ Day). There’s a tradition in Japan of displaying special dolls for Hina Matsuri on a tiered stand. The two most important dolls to display are the Emperor and Empress. Girls also dress up especially on this day in their best kimonos. Some girls will dress up like dolls and have little parties.
Purpose: Children will learn about different cultures and celebrations through these different activities. They will also gain fine motor skills, learn about cause and effect, and gain cooperation skills through working and playing together.