How many can you solve? Test your spring knowledge with a trivia quiz about March!

married person

The woman in the center of the three court ladies represents the role of a married woman, and in keeping with old customs, it’s common for her to have shaved eyebrows and blackened teeth. Nowadays, all three court ladies usually wear the same outfit, but if you see a lady-in-waiting wearing a dark, purplish hakama, that indicates she is the married woman.

Tachibana

The decorations on the tiered doll stand are derived from the “left sakon cherry and right ukon tachibana” planted at the Shishinden Hall of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Because the tachibana is an evergreen whose leaves remain lush even in winter, it has long been regarded as a tree symbolizing longevity and as having the power to ward off evil.

all-purpose flour

In junior high schools in Okinawa Prefecture, there is a custom called “merikenko-nage,” where flour and similar substances are thrown at graduation ceremonies. It’s a traditional way of celebrating that has been practiced for over 30 years, but it’s now seen as problematic because funds are sometimes forcibly collected from younger students and because it amounts to treating food disrespectfully.

An angry person

The three attendants (shitei) among the Hina dolls are men of common birth who serve as general helpers, and unlike the courtiers, they are portrayed as openly expressive. Each is characterized by a different expression—“laughing,” “crying,” and “angry”—and they are also known as the “Three Jo-go” (Sannin Jōgo).

Name of God

The English word “March” derives from Mars, the Roman god of war. In ancient Rome, March marked the beginning of the year, and as winter ended and the snow melted, armies could mobilize—ushering in the “season of war.” Hence, the month was named after the god of war.