The Japanese Doll Festival

Hinamatsuri, the Japanese Doll Festival, is a celebration for Japan’s girls. At first, it was held in Mar. 3rd , the lunar calendar, but after Meiji Restoration, it became Mar. 3rd , the solar calendar.
At this day, parents will set up a display stage to put Japanese dolls dressed in kimokos. Though Hinamatsuri is not a national holiday, families will get together to bless their daughters. The display stages can divide into seven stages. First is the king and queen, and then servants, orchestra, vehicles and so on.
During spring, it is the time of peach blossom; therefore, visitors will bring peaches and dolls if the host has daughters. Besides Hinamatsuri, the dragon boat festival is regarded as the boys’ festival. I think Japan is a country that put much emphasis on children’s culture and education, or they won’t have these children festivals.

Songkran Festival

Songkran Festival is Thailand’s New Year, and the festival is held in April. Several religious worships and celebrations will be held all over Thailand. Thais consider that water is a symbol of purity, the origin of life, and the god of all creatures.
The custom of Songkran Festival is to bathe our bodies with clean water, and it means to cleanse all bad lucks in last year and the new beginning of the next year.
The Thai people celebrate this festival with water. Everyone gets soaking wet and since it is the hottest season of the year, the custom is quite refreshing. Songkran is a Public Spring Cleaning Day, supported by the religious belief that anything old and useless must be thrown away or it will bring bad luck to the owner. During the afternoon of April 13th, Buddha images are bathed as part of the ceremony. Young people pour scented water into the hands of elders and parents as a mark of respect while seeking the blessing of the older people. In ancient days, old people were actually given a bath and clothed in new apparel presented by the young folks as a token of respect for the New Year. Where to celebrate Songkran Festival: in Banbkok and Chiang Mai, you can find the traditional celebrations!!