Japanese Doll Festival // ひなまつい

Happy Hinamatsuri! //うれしいひなまつり!

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"Hinamatsuri" (Doll's Festival) is held on March 3rd. This is a day to pray for young girl's growth, happiness and helps drive out bad spirits. It is also called "Momo no sekku (Peach Festival) because of the peach blossom season.

Most families with girls display "hina-ningyo" (special dolls for Hinamatsuri, see the photo on the right) and dedicate peach blossoms to them. They are usually arranged on a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet. At the top are the Emperor and Empress. The next step contains three court ladies (sannin-kanjo), followed by five musicians (gonin-bayashi), two ministers (udaijin and sadaijin), and three servants ending the bottom row in a five-tiered display. There are also small pieces of furniture, small meal dishes, and other things. Once Hinamatsuri is over Japanese Mothers put the dolls away. There’s an old wives tale that says the longer they keep the display up after the holiday is over, the longer it will take for their daughters to get married.

Hinamatsuri Song

Akari o tsukemashou bonbori ni

Let's light the lanterns on the tiered stand

Ohana o agemashou momo no hana

Let's set peach flowers on the tiered stand

Go-nin bayashi no fue taiko

Five court musicians are playing flutes and drums

Kyo wa tanoshii Hinamatsuri

Today is a joyful Dolls' Day