Dolls

Hinamatsuri doll festival is held on March 3rd every year. It is also called girls fastival. "Hina" means, Princess, and "Matsuri" means, festival. Hina matsuri is a girl's festival (also called 'dolls festival'). They can be made of many materials but the classic hina doll has a pyramidal body. A full set comprises at least 15 dolls, representing specific characters, with many accessories.

In that day families prey for the happiness and prosperity of their girls. Families who has daughter display special doll for this festival and dedicate them to Peach blossom Hinamatsuri is also called Momo no Sekku meaning Peach Festival. In Japan Peach blossom is a symbol for happy marriage because of the way and time the tree blooms.
The history of this festival is very long. It is not known exactly when it began, but it was mentioned in “The Tale of Genji” about 100 year ago. At that time, people prayed to be healthy and to have fortune at the beginning of spring.
A larger doll shrine representing the Japanese royal court of the Heian period. On the top step, there is an empress and an emperor and on the other steps are people the noble classes. On the second step there are three ladies holding Japanese rice cakes. On the third step there are five musicians holding Japanese traditional instruments. Two ministers may be displayed on the fourth step. On the fifth step , between the plants, holds three helpers or samurai as the protectors of the emperor and empress. On the sixth and seventh step a variety of miniature furniture, tools, carriages are displayed.

These dolls are not for played with but are ceremonial dolls. During festival time, they are display for a few days in the best room of the house and after March 3, they are carefully boxed and put away until the next year. Parent put the doll away as soon as possible because there is a tradition that says if they don’t, their girls will not able to marry or will be late to marry.
There are some special foods like sweet snack called “Hina Arare” (grilled piece of rice), “Hisimochi” (diamond shaped rice cake with pink, green, and white layers) and place in front of hina dolls.