May dolls, first festival, Boys' Festival | What are the customs? Manners, return gifts, wedding gifts, dinner parties
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My son's first Children's Day celebration.
I've prepared the May doll, but are there any manners or things I should give in return?
I want to invite my parents over to celebrate Boys' Festival, but I'm not sure what to do...
Maybe a dinner party or something?
For those of you who are concerned about this, we will explain the general customs for the first Doll Festival.
Please feel free to use this as a reference if you like.
May Dolls, First Boys' Festival, Boys' Festival | What are the customs?
What are the customs of May dolls? We will explain the etiquette, return gifts, celebration gifts, and dinner parties.
What are May dolls given as gifts during the Boys' Festival?
On the first Boy's Day on May 5th after the birth of our baby boy,
It is a Japanese culture in which people celebrate the birth of a boy by displaying May dolls, carp streamers, and warrior flags, and praying for his growth and health.
The May dolls and carp streamers are generally gifts from the maternal parents.
This is a general story, but...
In some regions, the outer decorations (carp streamers, warrior flags) represent the paternal parents.
There seems to be a local custom that the interior decorations of a May doll are the maternal parents.

First, how to choose a May doll [Tango no Sekku]
More and more people are not displaying carp streamers or warrior flags outside the home than before, so
What kind of Tango no Sekku celebration does this young couple want to have in the future?
I think it would be a good idea to consult with both families before choosing a May doll.
It would be even better if we could start discussing this issue around the New Year.
What kind of Tango Festival will be held by February at the latest?
I think it would be better to decide on a direction.
The recipient also said that carp streamers are difficult to raise and lower, and that they would like to display one for their son.
Each individual has different desires.
When to choose your first festival/May doll
Now, the basic May doll to be used to celebrate the first Boy's Festival has been decided.
Things were going smoothly, so
"Let's go buy a May doll!" Even if you go to a doll shop in January, all you'll find are Hina dolls.
When will the May dolls start being displayed? It's a good idea to call and ask.
At some stores, they start appearing in stock from late January to early February.
We also recommend that you do some online research before heading to the store.
You can find out about the popular May dolls and their types in recent years.
Once or twice, you may wonder what kind of May doll you would like to celebrate with.
An image comes to mind.
If you come across something that you like, you can order it on the spot.
We don't make a large number of May dolls, so it's a good idea to order yours before they run out.
As a general rule of thumb, it's best to place your order by mid-March.
Things to be aware of when displaying May dolls [Celebrating the first festival]
I made the decision quickly, so I want it delivered quickly.
Yes, I think so, but please wait a moment.
The three days before and after March 21st are a week known as the Spring Equinox, during which people pay tribute to Buddha.
There is a custom of holding a week of memorial services for Buddhist ancestors.
After this date, have the item delivered on a lucky day such as Taian or Tomobiki.
Customs and manners for gift-givers, return gifts, and celebrations for the first festival

Lastly, don't forget to give back.
"Yay! My son's May doll has arrived..." she said happily, and the moment ended.
So, instead, "It arrived blank to the sender.
I want to make it a point to show my gratitude to the person who gave me the gift, by saying, "Thank you for giving this to my son."
In return for the gift you gave me...
If you receive a May doll as a gift, please return the gift as a gift within one week.
You will probably do something similar when you give birth, so please remember that experience and use this as reference.
Dinner parties and dining out are also recommended [Celebrations and customs for the first festival]
It's fine to give a gift as a thank you gift, but it's also a good idea for the family of the person who received the gift to invite the family who gave the gift (grandfather and grandmother) to a meal together.
In the samurai society of the past, the Boys' Festival was a small, light banquet ritual in which people would enjoy some alcohol.
Above all, it was a precious opportunity to meet the grandparents of both families.
They will be able to see their grandchildren's faces, and what's best is that it will give grandparents a reason to meet their grandchildren.
And I think to myself, that grandchild is somehow like me!
If you are aware of this flow and customs, you will be able to hold a wonderful Tango no Hatsu Sekku.

Summary [Celebrating the First Festival]
Celebrating the Boys' Festival with a May doll is also a great way for the giver to celebrate the boy's festival.
I hope you will cherish this feeling and spend a relaxing Golden Week, enjoying the growth of your children during the upcoming Children's Day festival of Tango no Sekku.
In that case, be sure to convey the giver's feelings to your child and let them keep the precious item as a heartfelt memory.