This is your first child's first seasonal festival. For parents who are unsure about many things but still want to celebrate in style for their child, we'll start with some basic information. Here, we'll provide detailed information about when and why to celebrate. We'll also explain how to return gifts from parents, relatives, friends, and others, so be sure to check it out.

Girls' Festival is also called "Peach Festival" because it is held during peach season. Peach fruit season is around August, but the peach season we are talking about here refers to peach blossoms. Peach blossoms bloom before cherry blossoms, around March.

The specific date is March 3rd. This day is also known as Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day). The culture of festivals was introduced from China, and originally this day was called "Joshi no Sekku (Snow Festival)." Joshi refers to the first day of the snake in March. In ancient China, Joshi was considered a very bad day.

The reason for this is that in ancient China, triplets were born, but all three girls died three days later. People thought this was a misfortune, so they held a ceremony to wash away the impurities. It is said that this day was Jōshi. This is said to be the origin of the tradition, and people began to hold events related to girls on Jōshi, which eventually developed into a celebratory event.

Not only in ancient China, but in Japan as well, there was a culture of throwing human-shaped dolls into the water to ward off evil spirits. Of course, there are various theories about the origin of this custom, but one theory is that it was a syncretism of the Chinese festival culture and the Japanese culture of warding off evil spirits, resulting in the Joshi Festival.

Even today, remnants of this legend can be seen in the "Nagashibina" event, in which Hina dolls are floated down the river. The Hina dolls that are floated down the river are substitutes for beloved children, and this is done to pray for the health of children.

In this way, seasonal festivals are events to pray for the health of children. Please note that there is a difference in the dates: May 5th for boys and March 3rd for girls. The first seasonal festival is the first seasonal festival a child will celebrate. A child born in February will celebrate their first seasonal festival the following month, but this may overlap with other events such as the shrine visit, making it a demanding schedule for babies who are still developing.

If the first festival is too stressful for a newborn baby, it is recommended to wait until the baby has grown up and hold it a year later. In that case, it may be a good idea to simplify it by just displaying the Hina dolls.

On a girl's first Sekku, she may receive gifts from her parents, relatives, friends, etc. Many parents seem to be unsure how to return the gifts for the first Sekku celebration. Below are some ways to respond.

Cases where you don't need to return the gift

If you receive a gift from the parents of the baby's parents, i.e. the baby's grandparents, you generally don't need to give a gift in return. The same goes for relatives. The baby is also a family member to the person who gave the gift. Since it is a family celebration, there is no need to be too formal. Don't prepare any gifts, just invite them to a festival dinner with the baby. They will be happier if you give them an opportunity to see the baby's face.

Cases where you should give back

If you cannot invite your relatives to your dinner party because they live far away, it is better to send them a gift. Also, if you receive a gift from a friend who is difficult to invite to your family dinner, it is recommended that you send a gift in return.

Return gift prices and how to choose

The budget for a return gift should be about 1/2 to 1/3 of the amount of cash or gift you received. We recommend daily necessities such as towel sets, consumables such as seasonings, or gift catalogs. Choose based on your relationship with the recipient and, if you know their preferences, their preferences.

After all, it is the baby who is receiving the gift, so it would be appreciated if you include a photo of the baby dressed in a kimono and hakama with the thank-you gift and let them know how they are doing. Even those who couldn't attend can see the baby in gorgeous Japanese attire. Everyone who gave the gift is wishing the baby healthy growth. Don't overdo it, as it may make them feel uncomfortable, so keep it within the normal range.
A heartfelt letter or photo will surely be appreciated.

Since it's the first festival, you'll want to take photos in your best outfit. You'll also want to know how it's traditionally celebrated. Here, we'll explain what a girl should wear on the day of the festival, as a guide for what to wear on the day. We'll also touch on what mom and dad should wear, and introduce what you should do specifically to celebrate.

On the day of the first festival, we recommend dressing your baby in a gorgeous costume, as he is the star of the event.

If you are taking group photos at a studio or somewhere similar, it may be best for the parents and relatives to dress somewhat formally, but overly flashy clothing will make it difficult to move around when looking after the baby, so a suit or jacket for men and a dress for women would be best. It is safest to avoid clothing that you would be embarrassed about getting soiled by the baby or accessories that may be pulled on.

Now, let your baby, who is the star of the event, dress up as stylish as possible. We recommend the following costumes for girls' festivals.

baby dress

If there is only a short time between when the baby is discharged from the hospital and the first festival, the baby dress they were in when they were discharged from the hospital can still be worn, so they may want to keep the dress. Since the baby is still small, it may be a good idea to wait until next year to dress up in a new outfit.

twelve-layered kimono

If you have the budget and the manpower to look after your baby on the day, some families dress their baby in a Junihitoe kimono. It has a special feel and looks great in photos, but it takes time to put on and take off, so it may be a little early for a baby celebrating their first Sekku festival. You might want to consider it when your baby is a little older.

Kimono and Hakama

As mentioned above, girls' festivals are traditional events that were introduced from China and developed through assimilation with Japanese culture. Considering their origins, traditional Japanese clothing seems appropriate. If you're looking for traditional Japanese clothing for a girl on the day, we recommend a kimono and hakama. You might think that dressing a baby in traditional Japanese clothing like a kimono and hakama is difficult, but Tsukihana's hakama are made of authentic materials and have a genuine appearance, but they also have many baby-friendly features, such as elastic on the sides of the obi and hook-and-loop fasteners for easy on and off.

Also, if you are going to go to the trouble of choosing a Japanese style hakama for your baby, you will want to prepare some matching hair accessories as well. Tsukihana also stocks hair accessories that are perfect for Japanese style hakama. Please check them out as well.

Celebrate a girl's first Doll Festival with the following events:

Displaying Hina dolls

As mentioned above, the Peach Festival is also called "Girl's Festival." In other words, displaying Hina dolls is one of the celebratory events of the festival. By the way, do you know when to display Hina dolls?

In fact, it is customary to display the Hina dolls beforehand, rather than on the day itself. Specifically, it is said that it is best to put them out from the beginning of spring (around February 4th) until mid-February. They should be put away within one to two weeks after March 3rd. There is also a saying that if you leave them out for too long, your marriage may be delayed.

Go to a shrine and pray

Depending on the region, you may have a prayer ceremony held at a shrine. Please check with a large local shrine beforehand to see if they are holding a prayer ceremony for the festival. This is an opportunity to bring out your baby in a gorgeous outfit, so be sure to take some commemorative photos.

Have a dinner party with your baby

The parents and relatives who sent gifts are invited to a dinner party. The following dishes are typical for a celebratory meal.

• Chirashizushi...This dish is made using ingredients such as lotus root, which is said to give insight into the future, and shrimp, which symbolizes longevity.
• Clear soup...Clam clear soup is a standard dish, with the hope of finding a good match.
• Hishimochi, Hinaarare... The cute Hinaarare and hishimochi, which are three tiers of diamond-shaped rice cakes, are also staples of the festival. They come in three colors: pink, which represents protection from evil, green, which represents prayers for health, and white, which represents the hope of prosperity for descendants.

The Hina dolls, prayers, and dinner parties are all great opportunities for taking commemorative photos. Japanese clothing such as kimonos and hakama are perfect for taking photos with the Hina dolls. Please enjoy taking photos as well.

Girls' festivals are a culture that was originally introduced from China and were an event to ward off evil spirits from children. Nowadays, it is a joyous celebration where family and relatives gather around the baby, praying for the healthy growth of the girl. Dress your baby up in a kimono or other clothing that they wouldn't normally wear, and take commemorative photos to create wonderful memories.

Tsukihana offers special hakama for special occasions. For traditional events, why not try traditional Japanese clothing?