When the beginning of spring arrives, it is spring according to the calendar.
About two weeks later, the twenty-four solar terms will change from Risshun to Usui .
Hina dolls are said to have originally developed from "hitogata" (dolls) and "nagashibina" (flowing dolls), and as a culture that originates from water, it is said that "if you start displaying Hina dolls in the rainwater area where there is an abundance of water, you will be blessed with a good relationship."
The last day of the 24 solar terms, Usui, is Hinamatsuri, one month after the Hina dolls are put up for display.
We celebrate the change of seasons as we search for signs of spring in the cold.
Even as adults, Hinamatsuri still makes our hearts dance.
From the everyday routine of hotpots and other wintery foods, we gather around the table to enjoy a festive meal that brightens things up.
The spring season's dining table may begin with Hinamatsuri.
Discovering spring can also be done from the dining table.
Seasonal foods are a treasure trove of nutrients, so let's celebrate and enjoy the seasons.
Add some spring vibes to the classic chirashi sushi with rape blossoms
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The fresh seafood is bright and vibrant, and the youthful green of the rape blossoms and the yellow of the shredded egg are reminiscent of spring, creating a lively and refreshing taste.
●Spring ingredient "rapeseed blossoms"●
It is rich in vitamins B1, B2, vitamin C, carotene, calorie, iron, etc.
Rape blossoms contain three times the vitamin C of spinach and about five times the vitamin C of Chinese chives. They are also rich in iron, containing about four times the iron of Chinese chives, making them a recommended food for people who are prone to anemia.
●Tableware that enhances your food●
The curved shape makes it easy to serve colorful chirashi sushi. If you serve it on a flat dish, you will need more ingredients, but the boat-shaped bottom makes it easy to arrange the sushi in a mountain-like or mounded shape, which looks great in photos.
Enjoy the texture and flavor of seasonal vegetables in this stew of bamboo shoots and butterbur
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By cooking spring vegetables with light seasoning, you can enjoy the taste of the ingredients themselves and transition your body from winter to spring. As the saying goes, "spring is bitter," and eating bitter spring wild plants and vegetables is said to be an important element in expelling waste and fat that has built up in the body during the winter and preparing the body for the early spring weather.
●Spring ingredient "bamboo shoot"●
Bamboo shoots, a spring food ingredient, are characterized by their high content of dietary fiber and potassium. They are rich in dietary fiber, which is effective in preventing constipation and colon cancer, and helps improve cholesterol levels.
●Spring ingredient "Buki"●
It is known as a healthy vegetable because it contains dietary fiber, potassium, folic acid, polyphenols, calcium, etc. and is low in calories. In addition, the bitterness unique to butterbur is a type of polyphenol, which acts as an antioxidant and helps suppress carcinogenesis, prevent aging, and prevent arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure.
Many spring vegetables and wild plants need to be soaked in water to remove the bitterness. By properly preparing them, you can enjoy spring in a delicious way.
Sesame dressing, pickled vegetables and other delicious palate cleansers
●Tableware that enhances your food●
The exquisite size makes it perfect for serving liquidy dishes or as a side dish. Of course, it also looks great for serving a little bit of pickled vegetables. Although it is simple, it has the texture of Hagi ware, so it is easy to use and not plain.
The standard menu item is clam soup
Why has clam soup become a standard dish for Hinamatsuri?
Hamaguri is a bivalve shell that consists of two pieces, and its greatest feature is that it fits perfectly with its mating shell. Even if two separate shells are placed together, there will be no gap between them. For this reason, Hamaguri is considered a symbol of a happy couple, and with the wish that a girl will "meet a partner to spend her life with," it has become a standard menu item for Girls' Day, when girls wish for happiness.
During the Heian period, aristocrats enjoyed a game called "shell matching," which involved enjoying the properties of clams.
Three colors of spring celebration
The sweets that are known for Hinamatsuri include hishimochi, sakuramochi, sakuramochi, and hinaarare, and most of them are made in the colors of peach, white, and green. The three colors not only represent the seasons, but also represent the colors of good luck.
Green (bottom): Green <br>Like the three-colored dumplings, it represents "vitality" and "prosperity," and is a color that represents hopes for health and growth. Green also symbolizes mugwort and grass, and it also represents hopes for good health and freedom from disasters through the power of plants.
White (center): White symbolizes "purity," "health and safety," and even "a pure heart." White also symbolizes snow and cleanliness, and is especially used on the Doll's Festival to pray for the growth and happiness of children.
Pink (above): Pink symbolizes peach blossoms and is associated with the season of Hinamatsuri. As it is the time when peach blossoms bloom, it is meant to pray for the healthy growth and happy future of girls. Pink is also a color that symbolizes love and kindness.
The three colors of Sanshoku Dango and Hishi-mochi each have a symbolic meaning linked to nature, the seasons, and life. The combination of these colors represents wishes for health, happiness, prosperity, growth, and more, and by eating them, people inherit these wishes and are imbued with happiness in their lives and families.
Another important point is that mochi is made from rice. For the Japanese, who were an agricultural people in the past, rice was not just food, but a sacred thing, something that was treasured as a blessing from the gods. As seen in the Kagami mochi of New Year, it is believed that by eating it, the meaning is passed on.
Amazake to celebrate Hinamatsuri
When it comes to drinks on Hinamatsuri, the first thing that comes to mind is "amazake," but why did we start drinking it?
In fact, originally, the custom on the Girls' Festival was to serve "Toukashu," made by soaking peach petals in sake, rather than Amazake.
Peaches are said to have the power to ward off evil spirits, and are used in various Shinto rituals. The "Peach Festival" was originally a celebration to protect children from evil spirits, which were easily absorbed during the change of seasons.
Also, peaches are said to be a tree of immortality and longevity that can lead to life to 100 years, and so they were considered to be auspicious. This custom was imbued with the wish for longevity.
Peach blossom wine did not catch on widely, and instead, from around the middle of the Edo period, "white sake" made by steaming rice and koji in mirin, adding shochu and aging it became popular. However, white sake, which has a high alcohol content, is not suitable for children.
So "Koji Amazake", which is non-alcoholic and easy to drink, became the drink of choice for children on Hinamatsuri. Amazake has been popular since ancient times as a drink that restores energy, and is so nutritious that it has been called a "drinkable IV drip". It has become established as the perfect drink for the Girls' Festival, which is a time of prayer for the health and growth of children.
Let's celebrate the arrival of spring early with your family.
At celebratory meals, ingredients that evoke the season and the bounty of nature are used, and a variety of dishes (home-cooked flavors, etc.) that value traditional culture and family ties are lined up. By imagining the meaning behind the ingredients and dishes as you eat, you can feel the culture and family feelings that have been passed down throughout history. In Japan, celebrations involve "gathering around the family table," interacting with the seasons and culture through eating, and then passing it on to the next generation.
Enjoy the seasons and cultures through a celebratory meal.
[Living with Sunshine -Celebratory Dining-]
