From Setsuko Yoshizuka,
Your Guide to Japanese Food.
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March 3rd is Japanese Girl's Day called hina-matsuri (Japanese doll festival.) It's a celebration for Japanese girls, and Japanese Boy's Day is May 5th in Japan. People display a set of hina dolls and props in the house, wishing girls' healthy growth and happiness. Parents or grand parents of a newborn girl buy a set of gorgeous hina dolls unless they have special dolls, which are inherited from generation to generation.

Hina dolls are dressed in Japanese ancient costumes and are displayed on the shelves of a stand covered with a red carpet from the end of February to March 3rd. It is believed that any hina doll display should be taken down soon after the festival day; otherwise girls might have to wait to get married.

Hina-matsuri is also called momo-no-sekku, which means a festival of peach blossoms. Peach blossoms, shiro-zake (white rice wine), and hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes) are placed on the stand with hina dolls. Hishi-mochi are colored in pink (implies peach flowers), white (implies snow), and green (implies new growth).

The origin of hina-matsuri is said to be an ancient Chinese ceremony that people let paper dolls flow on a river to get rid of bad luck from their bodies. This practice was combined with girls' doll play and was established as hina-matsuri during Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan.

Traditionally, girls in Japan invited their friends to a home party and had a good time. Many people still prepare a special meal for girls on this day.

It might be fun to plan a Japanese Girl's Day party for your kids.

Japanese Girl's Day Menu

Hinachirashi - colorful sushi served on a plate.

Ushio-jiru - clam soup

Sakura-mochi (Kanto-style) - sweet pink rice cakes

Kansai-style Sakura-mochi - sweet pink rice cakes

Hina-arare - colorful rice cracers *order or buy at Asian grocery stores near you.

Enjoy your party!