Hinamatsuri

Hinamatsuri, or Hina Matsuri (雛祭 or ひな祭り, ''Hinamatsuri, or Hina Matsuri'&# 39;^?) is the Festival of the Dolls, which is celebrated every March 3 in Japan. It is dedicated especially to girls, which is why it is also known as the Girls' Festival. In it, the girls display various dolls (ningyō (人形, 'ningyō&# 39;^?)) dressed in traditional kimonos and are located on different levels of a platform, up to 5 to 7 steps, covered with red cloth. These dolls represent hierarchically ordered characters from the imperial court of the Heian Era and are passed down from generation to generation within the family. It is also usually decorated with peach blossoms since this festival is also known as Momo no Sekku, and the peach is a fruit that is related to the female sex.

Origin and tradition

Hina dolls.

The Japanese tradition that comes from where it was thought that these dolls could hide evil spirits in their bodies, thus saving their owner from dangerous encounters once they were rid of them. In this way, the custom was made in a ceremony known in the Heian Period as hina nagashi, in which paper dolls were sent by boat down a river, taking evil spirits with them. The custom spread during the Edo Period, passing from generation to generation until what we know today as Hinamatsuri.

It is said that if the dolls are exposed for longer than necessary, the girl will remain single when she grows up or that it will take time for her to marry. For this reason, the dolls are usually stored soon after the festival, being the best day 4 to do so.

The festival features its own traditional song, which is well known among the Japanese population. A typical dish of the festival is hinaarare, a kind of rice balls of different colors and sweets, which are said to protect girls from illnesses and bad luck. shirozake, a white sweet sake, is often drunk to purify the body.