Hinamatsuri Dolls
Hinamatsuri Dolls
Editor's Note: Click here for origami hina doll instructions.
Also known as "Girls' Day", Hinamatsuri (literally Doll Festival) in Japan is a time to wish for the health and future happiness of young girls. During Hinamatsuri, most homes with young girls display hina dolls, decorate them with peach blossoms and offer the dolls special colored and diamond-shaped rice cakes, white sake and other items. In the hinamatsuri practice, originally dolls were used as substitutes to protect young girls from misfortunes and were washed away in the river with the perceived bad luck. That practice transformed into decorating dolls and spread throughout Japan in the Edo Period (1603-1868).
Photo c. George Hirose.
Also known as "Girls' Day", Hinamatsuri (literally Doll Festival) in Japan is a time to wish for the health and future happiness of young girls. During Hinamatsuri, most homes with young girls display hina dolls, decorate them with peach blossoms and offer the dolls special colored and diamond-shaped rice cakes, white sake and other items. In the hinamatsuri practice, originally dolls were used as substitutes to protect young girls from misfortunes and were washed away in the river with the perceived bad luck. That practice transformed into decorating dolls and spread throughout Japan in the Edo Period (1603-1868).
Photo c. George Hirose.
