Living with celebrations vol.1 Girls' Festival (3)

"Life with Celebrations"

Celebrating seasonal events is about <organizing your life, decorating for the season, and feasting for the celebration>, which in turn re-communicates the joy of a child's growth and gratitude for life. Through these celebrations, we can re-circulate and appreciate our current environment and lifestyle.

Embrace the richness of celebrating each turning point of the seasons.

The main event of any home celebration is, without a doubt, the mealtime.

Last year, we went to a shrine with my parents or dined at a restaurant.
Those alone made for special occasions, but this year, as we didn't visit a shrine, it was a day where I re-considered "celebratory meals."

1. The Celebratory Dining Table

My daughter can now eat many different things.
I looked through various recipe websites, but for Hinamatsuri, I settled on classic celebratory dishes.

Celebratory meals often incorporate seasonal ingredients, are colorful and appealing, and most importantly, many are lightly seasoned, making them easy for children to eat.

Flavors of home, flavors of the region, flavors of Japan.

I hope she will enjoy the depth of Japanese celebratory cuisine throughout her life.

When I finish serving the food and call out to my daughter, she rushes over.
Lately, "helping out" is her favorite thing to do.

As I arrange the food on the table, she asks with great curiosity,
"What's this?"

I'm happy she's interested in food.
"What's this?" I ask her back.

"Shrimp!"

The ingredients in Japanese celebratory dishes hold various hidden meanings, bringing good fortune.
　

2. The Celebratory Feast

New Year's, Setsubun/Risshun, Hinamatsuri.

This year, we've already been celebrating seasonal events monthly, so my daughter is quite used to it.

I wonder if the joy of the celebration and our parental feelings are conveyed through the livelier dinner table.
　

March 3rd, my daughter's third Hinamatsuri.

My daughter can now wear celebratory attire and decorate the Hina dolls. She can also gather around the table lively and eat without being picky. When my husband says this, my daughter smiles proudly.

Seasonal festivals are a time to reflect on growth amidst the busyness of daily life.

This year, beyond witnessing my daughter's growth, our family dynamic changed with the birth of our son. I felt the growth of our family in the same way.

Although there are still cold days, the mid-spring air is completely enveloped in warmth during the day.
This year too, I want to create many memories while watching my daughter grow.

A one-of-a-kind photographer who captures the loveliness and atmosphere of "that moment" with exquisite essence. Their expressive power feels surprisingly familiar, and their nostalgic nuance is always gentle and warm. Every time you look back at their photos, they subtly remind you how precious "what you have now" and "this very moment" are, shedding light on your daily life and offering a method to embrace it happily.