by Marina in March 3, 2012 · Filed under Exciting Days
Today, March 3rd is Hinamatsuri which is Doll Festival!! It is a Girl’s Day as it is a day to wish for young girl’s growth and happiness. Most families with girls display “hina-ningyo” (special dolls for hina matsuri). My hina-ningyo is a set of a Heian emperor and empress, but many of hina-ningyo usually includes attendants, musicians and other servants also. We start displaying the hina-dolls form middle of February about 2 weeks. If you display dolls out too long it is said to delay marriage and people put the hina dolls away soon after March 3rd.
In Hinamatsuri, we eat traditional dish such as chirashi-zushi and hina-arare. Every year my mom cooks chirashi-zushi and this is the chirashi-zushi we ate this evening. I helped her cook and it was very DELICIOUS!!
by Marina in January 3, 2012 · Filed under Exciting Days
On January 1st we went to Enoshima to see my grandparents on my father’s side. We ate Osechi which is a traditional food that Japanese people eat on the first 3 days of the new year. My most favorite food in Osechi is Kuromame (sweetened black beens). In my grandparent’s house, there was a Kagamimochi which are sets of two round flat rice cakes and it is said that the new year’s god stays on it’s top during new year’s period. We buy or make it and set it up before December 31st and crack it open after the new year’s period.
After we went to Enoshima, we went to Atsugi to see my grandparents on my mother’s side. I got Otoshidama from my grandparents and my uncles and aunts. Otoshidma is the new year allowance and it is custom in Japan to give money to their child/children, grandchildren or nephews and nieces and this is one of the fun part about new year for me. 
I really had a good time eating delicious foods, greeting my grandparents and relatives, and playing with my cousins!!!
by Marina in December 31, 2011 · Filed under Exciting Days
Happy New Year!! I’m awake at 0:00 am to countdown the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012!!
The thing I always look forward to take a picture of is a lighthouse near my apartment, Marine Tower and it’s really beautiful after counting down “5! 4! 3! 2! 1!”!!
My parents and I were very busy cleaning the whole house for the last few days. In Japan people clean their houses at the end of the year to welcome the god of the year who brings happiness and good luck to the family in coming year. It feels nice to see my house (mostly my room) is really neat and clean.
