Hina-matsuri, (Girl’s Day). Kodomo-no-hi (Boy’s Day or Children’s Day), and Shichi-go-san (for children three, five and seven years old) are Japanese festivals especially for children.
GIRLS’ DAY : MARCH 3
Hina matsuri is a girl’s festival (also called ‘dolls festival’). This is celebrated because the parents want their children to grow strong and healthy. This happens on March 3rd (third day of third month). On this day parents of the girls get a doll shrine.
The doll shrine is covered with red cloth. These dolls are called hina ninngjyow. Hina means princess and ninngiyow means doll. These dolls represent a royal family in Japan, long time ago, in Heangidai Heian period (794-1192) about 1300 years ago.
On the top step, there is an empress and an emperor and on the other steps are people the noble classes. On the second step there are three ladies holding Japanese rice cakes. On the third step there are five musicians holding Japanese traditional instruments and on the 4th step there are four men and beside them there are two cherry blossoms. On the last step in this picture there are 10 pieces of furniture.
During Hina matsuri girls wear kimonos and they eat hina-arale, The children drink ama-sake, a rice wine that is made especially for girls during Hina matsuri. It has no alcohol in it so children can drink it without worrying