January 2024
Celebrated on March 3 every year, Girl’s Day is a day on which Japanese households with young daughters decorate their homes with ornamental dolls. These dolls have been traditionally used to pray for a girl’s prosperity, health and successful marriage.
The third day of March is considered to be a day of purification, on which people were to transfer evil spirits into dolls and release them into rivers and oceans. Households with girls made dolls out of straw and sailed them down the river in boats, supposedly taking all the potential misfortunes with them. We recently found out that even the makers of the dolls ‘pray’ over the dolls for spirits to bless their use.
Most families with daughters in modern day Japan continue to decorate their homes with elaborate and colorful five-tiered platforms of dolls. The dolls are said to represent the emperor, empress, attendants and musicians in traditional court dress. Traditionally, parents of a newborn girl will buy a set of dolls for the baby’s first Girl’s Day. It is a beautiful display and many today do not realize the depth of spiritualism behind them. For the average Japanese, this is another custom, not religion.
The decorations usually start in mid-February and are kept until the end of March 3. The decorations are taken down immediately after Girl’s Day, as some believe that keeping the dolls up past March 4 will result in a late marriage for the daughters. In some areas of Japan, people still release paper dolls in the water after the holiday, while praying for health and good luck.
Apart from decorating the gorgeous dolls, Japanese people also celebrate this day by cooking special food and drinks. The customary drink for the festivities is a sweet sake (rice wine) that may contain a small amount of alcohol. The traditional dishes such as rice crackers and rice cakes are also served. source:the internet
Our hearts desire is for them to come to know the Living God who wants to protect their daughters (and sons) and give the parents wisdom from His Word in raising their children. Proverbs 22 verse 6- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This doesn’t guarantee that all things will be wonderful or expedient in their own choices once they are adults, but the wisdom of God’s word and training can lead to so much more in their lives for good!
The Bible encourages us to continue in what we have learned, so that we may be wise:II Timothy 3:
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
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