ひな祭り(Hinamatsuri)

Hinamatsuri is a festival held every year on March 3rd to celebrate and wish for the growth and happiness of girls. (Boys’ Day is on May 5th!)

During Hinamatsuri, families who has girls display Hina dolls. Traditional sets can be as large as seven tiers, reaching up to 150cm(5 feet) in height. However, due to space and storage concerns, , many families choose smaller three-tiered or compact single-tier displays instead.

Hina dolls are often passed down through generations, from grandmothers to mothers and then to daughters. The top tier features the Imperial Couple—the Odairi-sama[お内裏様] (Prince) and Ohina-sama[お雛様] (Princess). Below them, you’ll find court attendants, musicians, household staff, and wedding trousseau items.

People usually start displaying the dolls in early February (立春(Risshun)) and take them down right after March 3rd. According to superstition, they should be put away immediately after March 3rd, or it is believed that marriage may be delayed.

Hinamatsuri is also celebrated with festive foods, such as ひなあられ(hina-arare (sweet rice crackers)) and ちらし寿司(chirashi-zushi (scattered sushi)), which are considered symbolic of good fortune.

Hinamatsuri is mainly enjoyed when children are babies to elementary aged, then often as they grow older they gradually stop displaying them.

You can appreciate the beauty of Hina dolls at hotels, shops, and public displays, where this unique cultural tradition is showcased.

Enjoy the charm of Hinamatsuri! 🎎✨