HINAMATSURI -Doll ’s Festival

 March 3rd is Doll ’s Festival. In Japanese, it is called Hinamatsuri, but the kanji for this chick is originally read as "hiina" and means all small adorable things. 


 

Hinamatsuri(Doll’s Festival) is an occasion to pray for young girls’ growth and happiness.
Hinamatsuri is celebrated each year on March 3.


Most families with girls display dolls for the Doll’s Festival called Hina-ningyo.
The dolls depict the imperial court.


A set of dolls includes the Emperor(odairi-sama), the Empress(ohina-sama), three court ladies(sannin-kanjo), five court musicians(gonin-bayashi), the minister of the left(sadaijin), the minister of the right(udaijin) and three servants(sannin-jougo).


Today, we eat traditional dishes like Scattered sushi(chirashi-sushi), clam soup, sweet white sake(shirozake), rise cake cubes(hina arare) and diamond-shaped rice cakes(hishimochi) for the Doll’s Festival.