Let’s Hear It for the Girls

When March 3rd arrives, it’s all about young girls in Japanese culture.

Hinamatsuri, also known as Doll’s Festival or Girls’ Day, is a holiday when families celebrate the health, happiness, and prosperity of their daughters, most commonly from birth through age ten.

Pre-holiday preparations begin in mid-February, when families display ornamental dolls in their homes to ward off evil spirits. The most elaborate displays feature multi-tiered, red-carpeted platforms showcasing intricate figures representing royalty and members of the imperial court.

Traditionally, fifteen dolls and their accessories make up a complete set. Families often acquire a full set before their daughter’s first Hinamatsuri. Depending on quality, a five-tier set can cost up to $2,500. These dolls are frequently passed down through generations as cherished heirlooms, continuing a tradition that dates back to the 17th century.

Food and drink also play an important role in Hinamatsuri, as with many Japanese cultural celebrations. Green, white, and pink foods are traditionally enjoyed, symbolizing fresh grass (green), snow (white), and peach blossoms (pink), which represent purity and good health. Clam soup is also commonly served, symbolizing a harmonious marriage, as each clam shell has only one perfect match. Sweet, non-alcoholic sake is another customary part of the celebration.

Hinamatsuri is brief in duration. The dolls are carefully put away before March 4th, as leaving them out longer is believed to delay a girl’s future marriage.