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Happy Girls Day!

Happy Girls' Day!
Captain's Log, Stardate 03.03.2009

I admit, I didn’t remember it was Girls’ Day until my Mom reminded me, but my family has done something to celebrate Girls’ Day for as long as I can remember.

It is also called hina-matsuri (hee naw mott sue ree), or the Japanese Doll Festival, and it’s always held on March 3rd (three-three, the third day of the third month—I think there’s some significance but I can’t remember what it is, maybe my mom will chime in and tell us).

We have some gorgeous Japanese dolls that I got when I was a baby in honor of Girls’ Day. They’re at my parents’ house, and they’re below. They’re very expensive because they’re from Japan, but they’re a standard gift for a baby girl for her first Girls’ Day.




Update: Girls' Day is also supposed to be a celebration of peach blossoms, but we typically see cherry blossom trees in bloom around this time. My parents also sent me pictures of a couple cherry blossom trees around their home in Hawaii:


Every year, my grandma would make pink mochi for me for Girls' Day (why pink? I'm not sure, one online source I read says it's related to the pink color of the peach blossoms). This pink mochi is also called chi chi dango, although chi chi dango can have many different flavors and shapes. The chi chi dango we ate is small and rectangular mochi, dusted with potato starch, with a sweet, slightly milky taste.

Mom made some for my cousin, so she sent me a picture of it:


For me, I think I will not cook today. That is my Girls’ Day celebration in the Tang household. (Sorry, Captain Caffeine)

So even if you’re not Japanese, do something special for the girls in your life today--especially if that includes YOURSELF! And comment below to let me know what you did/plan to do!
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Comments

Anonymous said…
Hey, sounds like a great thing...girls day. I'm diggin' that. I'll have to think of a way to celebrate. Maybe I'll get myself some chocolate..that's always a great treat as far as I'm concerned.
Tue Mar 03, 05:52:00 AM 2009
Shelley L. MacKenzie said…
Happy Girls day to you, Camy! Your dolls are gorgeous! Not sure how I'll celebrate it - maybe take some "me" time from my studies and do some knitting I need to get done.
Tue Mar 03, 06:05:00 AM 2009
Anonymous said…
What GORGEOUS dolls! My mom has collected dolls over the years. How should I celebrate Girl's Day? By meeting a bunch of women for Bible Study this AM. Can't wait to share what a special day it is!
Blessings!
Tue Mar 03, 08:24:00 AM 2009
Camy Tang said…
Lynn, chocolate is good for ANYTIME!

Shelley, you're my girl! Get some knitting done!

Sherry, I had Bible study this morning, too!

I've also updated the post with a few more pictures of cherry blossom trees and chi chi dango mochi.

Camy
Tue Mar 03, 12:10:00 PM 2009
Danica Favorite said…
Love this! I think I need to celebrate it too!
Tue Mar 03, 01:43:00 PM 2009
Malia Spencer said…
Ooo, chi chi dango. I haven't had that in forever! Maybe I can find some in the store.

I'm not sure what my girl thing for myself will be, I've got an 8 hour school day ahead of me after a morning of homework. Maybe a workout if I have the energy after class tonight. I have a biathlon on Saturday so need this last week to really get going!
Tue Mar 03, 01:43:00 PM 2009
Anonymous said…
Hi Camy,
I'm also an Asian like you. I've been to Japan ten years ago. The things that got me hooked about Japan are food, peach blossoms, wooden slippers ( btw is there a special name for that?),Japanese discipline and festivals/celebrations. Even here, where I work as a preschool teacher, we celebrated "tanabata festival" because a Japanese mom introduced the concept to the kids.
It was fun.

Hope you'll feature more about Japanese celebration, culture and other things we do not usually read and watch about Japan. In other words: the hidden side of Japan on your blog( with pictures ofcourse.)
Best,
Joy
Wed Mar 04, 12:30:00 AM 2009
Camy Tang said…
Dream, I hope your day got better!

Malia, chi chi dango is waaaaaay easy to make. One of my twenty-something male cousins made something similar, butter mochi, a few years ago, and if HE can make it, it's got to be easy. I found a few microwave recipes online when I googled it.

Joy, thanks for commenting! I'm glad you found my blog! Those wooden slippers are called geta slippers, and the only ones I've worn have been reeeealy uncomfortable. Then again, I'm a clutz. :)

Camy
Wed Mar 04, 01:15:00 AM 2009
Anonymous said…
Camy,
A Japanese friend of mine sent geta slippers ( ok now i got it.)to me in Croatia. I loved them (though not the most comfy to wear)
they're beautiful but you need to know how to walk with geta slippers.otherwise, you'll end up getting tripped.

If you have time, come and visit my blog too. www.thecoffee-addict.blogspot.com

joy
curica41@yahoo.com
Wed Mar 04, 11:16:00 PM 2009
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