BIRTHDAY SYMBOLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 176, 28 July 1932, Page 2

BIRTHDAY SYMBOLS

The women of Japan celebrate their birthday on tho one day, March 3. which is observed as a great national ceremonial known as the 44 Festival of the Dolls.” For the event dolls arc in much demand annually, wealthy people of the country paying up to £lOO for samples dressed in the quaintest and richest Eastern style. From year to year the dolls are carefully preserved as tho features of family shrines. A reminder of tho festival recently was brought to Now Zealand by the Japanese cruiser Asama, for Miss CrichtonTmrie from tho controller, Dir. Yano, of the Japanese Red Cross, which has Imperial recognition. Tho beautiful gift, made by a master artist, and sent in token of valuable assistance given in connection with child welfare, day nursery, clinic and settlement work carried out two years ago, arrived in the Dominion when the intended recipient was again out East, but the parcel awaited her return at the Consular offices. The doll, two feet high, set in a box with glassed sliding front, is a representation of a princess garbed in tho Imperia] robes with their characteristic pointed cut. There is the orange, green and heliotrope hues of the kimono, as worn by children, and the golden tissue “Ohi,” the wearing of these wide sashes denoting in Japan the child, the eligible girl or the married woman. The costume of the doll, complete with book of rank and its clusters of jewelled pins, is all handmade. NEW “JEWELLERY" WOMEN CAN KNIT IT The seaside girl will be able to make her own “jewellery” this year (states the Daily Mail). She will knit it when she knits her holiday jumpers, for the newest sports “jewellery” is made of wool. Most of the bracelets are designed on the * slave bangle” pattern and are simply tubular knitted rings which are so elastic as to slip over the hand easily. “These are intended to be worn with white sleeveless tennis or seaside frocks or pyjama suits,” stated a West End firm of manufacturers which is making the new “jewellery.” Equally novel are tho “sets.” These consist of bracelet, choker necklet, and belt made of a number of tubular lengths attached to a rigid bar fastener. The bracelet has twelve rings in blue, red, green, and yellow, the choker necklet is composed of six lengths of tube to match and tho belt of four. They are, of course, as light as a feather, but they are not intended to be worn in the water.