Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-05-10
THE FEAST OF THE DOLLS.
A PIcTUREsouE SPRING CUSTOM
IN JAPAN.

| They Arc Kept Apart.
| ~ PR1NG is the most delightful
| ~ season of the year in Japan
| y 1t is perfect paradise, this
| sun-rising country.
1t is at the beginning of this season
that one of the prettiest and oldes,
customs of the Japanese people is OBJ
served. 1t is the great holiday for the
| girls, called the 'tFeast of Dolls, OF
the ''Feast of the Peaches" because
it occurs at the time when the peach
trees are in bloom. Although held
particularly for the young girls, the
pleasures of the day are shared by
their friends of the sterner sex.
The "Momo-no -Sekku" occurs on
tho Sd of March-or really begins on
the 1st and reaches the climax on the
Sd. This time is looked forward to
with great expectation and prepara-
tion.
The origin of this custom dates back
nearly twenty centuries and some of
the details are rather obscure. For
instance, it is not known why il occurs
on the Sd of March or why it is OBJ
served exclusively by unmarried girls.
About twenty centuries ago Japan was
governed by an Emperor and his wife.
This Emperor was called Nin-toku
Tenno, and he was great and good
sovereign. In memory OF their be-
loved rulers, the people made dolls to
show their respect and affection for
the dead, and dedicated them to their
memory. This is the generally ac-
cepted origin of the "MomonoS Sekku, -
or the ''Feast of the Dolls" How
ever, with the lapse of time this idea
was done away with and the day is
now dedicated to the Goddess of
Love"
Until thirty years ago. during the
feudal time, it was one of the National
holidays, but is not now one. From
the end of February to the Sd of March,
every family having an unmarried
daughter or daughters, is extremely
busy making preparations fer this
holiday. In the first place, room is
set aside in which the dolls are to be
arranged. This is decorated with
peach blossoms in very pretty man
ner. Against the walls of the room are
arranged series of shelves, covered
with bright red and embroidered cloth.
On the first tier one or two pairs
of Hina (dolls) are placed splendidly
dressed in gold brocade of ancient style
and which represent the Emperor and
Empress. On the second tier are two
royal guards and three court ladies
one of these is standing, while the
other two are sitting. The one stand
ing holds in her hand a small table on
which is ceremonial wine cup. Sit
ting on the next tier are five dolls
dressed as boy musicians in fine court
costume, one singing, one playing the
flute, one the drum and the other two
the large and small tauzumi Ia kind
of DRUM. After these on the next
and remaining tiers may be seen many
dolls, sometimes over 100, all dressed
very finely, representing some histori-
cal OF mythical character releting to
women.
Beside the dolls, there will be vari-
GUS kinds of dolls ornaments, furni-
ture and decorations, such as table,
sets, bureau boxes and many kitchen
utensils, of small size, corresponding
to the hight of the dolls. These orna-
ments are all made of finest lacquer
and are very expensive, sometimes
costing all the way from $4,000 to
$40, 900. OF course, only the wealth
ier families can afford so much.
The dolls are from two inches to a
foot and half in hight, and are also
quite expensive. People pay rs high
as $50 to 800 for pair of them.
These dolls are made by professionals
and are OF very fine workmanship.
Their sale begins sometimes in Febru-
ary, and the market where they are
sold presents very busy appearance.
When everything is in readiness,
the young ladies send out invitations
to their relatives and gentlemen
friends to come and visit their dolls.
This is the only opportunity during
the year for young people of both
sexes to mingle in friendly way, and
they are not slow in taking advantage
of it. The gentlemen send presents
to the young ladies on receipt of the
invitations, consisting of dolls, orna-
ments or kind of cake used as an or
nament. All these presents must have
peach flowers in them. On the feast
day the next room to the one in which
the dolls are is arranged as banquet
room. This is artistically decorated
with peach and cherry blossoms and
other flowers of the season. In it is all
the furniture belonging to the young
ladies, and also the gifts sent by the
young men.
On the arrival of the guests they
are welcomed by the young ladies,
who are dressed in their gayest attire
of the color of peach blossoms, and
who wear peach blossoms in their
hair. After the salutations are over
the guests are led to the room where
the dolls are arranged. and are shown
the dolls by the young ladies. This
part of the programme over, they are
escorted to the room where the ban
quet is to be held. The guests then
sit down at small individual tables,
and the feast begins. There is no Re
gulsr menu, but rice cake, cut in the
shape of diamond, sweets and other
dainties are offered to the guests.
Usually there is kind of liquor called
"Shiro-Sake" Ia sweet liquor made
out of rice and resembling milky. All
the cakes and other things are painted
with figures representing peach bios