A milestone called a seasonal festival.

"Sekku" means a turning point in the season, and it has long been said that it is a time when evil spirits are likely to enter. In the past, it was thought that people could become unwell during seasonal turning points.

That's why we perform ``warding off evil spirits'' not only during seasonal festivals, but also at seasonal milestones such as ``First Spring,'' ``Setsubun,'' and ``Winter Solstice.'' At various seasonal events, we pray for good health by eating various foods and practicing customs that protect us from disasters and diseases.

A milestone day is not only a celebration, but also a time to take care of your family and your body, and reevaluate your lifestyle.
For example, decorating and tidying up Hina dolls according to milestones can also help organize your life.

I feel that the Japanese way of life, in which such things are designated as "practice days," is the wisdom of people accumulated from generation to generation.

◆ What is Gosekku? ◆

Gosekku is a culture that was introduced from China during the Nara period and is based on the idea that days with odd numbers should be celebrated as they are close to the turning points of the seasons.
Since ancient times in Japan, seasonal events and celebrations have been adapted to suit the rhythm of life centered around rice cultivation. In the past, there were more festivals than there are now, but in modern times, five festivals have been passed down.

People's Day Festival (Nanakusa Festival)...January 7th

[Jin-hi no Sekku] is a day to pray for good health for the coming year, and there is a custom of eating Nanakugayu. It is said to have its origins in ancient Chinese writings, but in Japan there was a practice called ``Wakana-zumi,'' in which young greens were picked at the beginning of the year to receive new life from the natural world.

The decorations for Jinji Festival are the same as for New Year's, such as hagoita and hamayumi .

It is used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits and ensure good health during this turning point.

Kamishi no Sekku (Momo no Sekku)...March 3rd

A day to decorate Hina dolls and celebrate the healthy growth of girls.

The decorations for the Kamishi Festival are Hina dolls .

The ritual of purifying oneself in a river to pray for good health was introduced from China, and this was combined with the custom of entrusting one's impurity to a doll (Hitogata) and letting it float down the river, which originally existed in Japan , and gradually changed to the style of displaying dolls. went.

Boy's Festival (Iris Festival)...May 5th

A day to pray and celebrate the healthy growth of boys.

In modern times, it is also known as "Children's Day."

Decorations for Boy's Festival include May dolls and carp streamers . It is displayed to pray for the healthy growth of boys. The origin of carp streamers is a Chinese legend that says, ``A carp that climbs the strong current of Ryumon Waterfall will become a dragon.'' Carp streamers are decorated with the wish that ``the carp will grow strong and be able to stand up for itself.'' You can

Tanabata Festival (Sasatake no Sekku)...July 7th

Tanabata was held as an event to pray for the improvement of women's weaving and needlework. In Japan during the Nara period, it was adopted as an event in the imperial court and has remained until the present day.

Tanabata bamboo is used as decorations for the Tanabata Festival . It used to be common to decorate it as a mark pointing towards the god of heaven, and to decorate it by writing Japanese poems on strips of paper, but in modern times it has become mainstream to write your wishes on it and tie it together. It is said that bamboo came to be used because it was said to have the effect of warding off evil spirits.

Chrysanthemum Festival (Chrysanthemum Festival)...September 9th

A day to pray for health through the medicinal properties of chrysanthemums.

Hina dolls are among the decorations for the Chrysanthemum Festival.

It is said that the purpose is to bring out your Hina doll and prevent pain. This custom of displaying Hina dolls that had been put away in March once again was called ``Nochino Hina'' (later Hina dolls).