The Doll Festival or as it is called in Japan, ‘Hinamatsuri’ is a festival held on the 3 rd of March. Fact Fact The Doll's Festival is not a national holiday. Boy's Festival was designated as common Children's Day in Japan. Until it was designated to be Boys Festival. Some day, both Girl's Festival ( Hinamatsuri) and Boy's Festival may become national holidays.

The reason for HinaMatsuri is to pray for girls’ health & growth. It applies to girls that are seven years & younger

The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period which was about 1200 years ago. Originally, people believed that dolls possessed the power to contain bad sprits. Hinamatsuri traces its origins back to an ancient Japanese custom called Nagashi-bina, in which straw Hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad sprits with them.  Nagashi-bina

At the festival, the families hold a party. At the party, they serve Amazake, a sweet non- alcoholic sake, and Hishimochi, a three- coloured rice cake. The colors of Hishimochi are pink, white and green, which represent, arrival of spring by plum flowers, melting snow, and green leaves. Mostly, they have Chirashi-sushi. Amazake Hishimochi Chirashi-sushi

The dolls wear costumes from the Heian period ( ). They are all placed on a stand with a few platforms, covered in red felt. On the top tier is the Emperor & Empress The second tier has three ladies in waiting. The third has five male musicians. The fourth has ministers sitting on either side of the food tray. & Finally the fifth has guards on it with an orange tree to the left & a cherry tree to the right.