Mark your calendar for the third day of the third month so you’ll be sure to catch the Hina Matsuri, formerly know as Girl’s Day in Japan, where people pray for the happiness and health of the the young people in their life.

To celebrate this day, beautiful displays of dolls are set up in  homes, stores, shrines and even train stations throughout Japan.  This tradition dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1868) when the dolls were meant to ward off or absorb evils spirits.  Traditionally, after the festival, the dolls were released into local streams and rivers so that any sickness or bad fortune would float away with them.

Displays of hina ningyo (ornamental dolls) are placed on a tiered platforms covered with red felt that can have as many as seven layers with the top tier reserved for the emperor and the empress (as pictured above).  The remaining layers represent the court and include a number of less elaborate dolls on lower tiers.  Rich layers of brocade and silk fashioned in the styles worn by the imperial court during the Heian period (794-1192) adorn the hina ningyo. 

The Hina Matsuri display may also include traditional foods of the festival such as mochi (pounded rice cakes), arare (rice crackers) and amazake (sweet non-alchoholic rice wine).

Take part in this years Hina Matsuri in Tokyo by visiting Meiji Jingu Shrine on Saturday, February 28th from 10AM to 2:30PM.  Many beautiful dolls will be on display and four hundred parents and children will participate in the Nagashi-bina (doll-floating ceremony) on Kita-ike (north pond) in front of the Homotsuden (treasure house) at 11:30AM.   Access Meiji Jingu Shrine via Harajuku or Meiji-Jingumae Stations.

Image Credit:  Flickr, Japanese Doll Festival

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