Hinamatsuri (ひな祭り), or the Doll Festival, is a traditional Japanese celebration held on March 3rd to wish for the health, happiness, and prosperity of young girls. It is also known as Girls’ Day. Families with daughters display a set of ornamental dolls (hina-ningyō, 雛人形) dressed in Heian-era court attire, representing the Emperor, Empress, and their attendants.
How Do People Celebrate?
Families typically celebrate by:
• Displaying Hina Dolls (雛人形の飾りつけ): The dolls are arranged on a tiered platform covered with a red cloth.
• Eating Special Foods (特別な食べ物を楽しむ): Traditional dishes include:
• Chirashizushi (ちらし寿司) – A colorful sushi bowl with fresh seafood and vegetables.
• Hishimochi (菱餅) – A three-layered rice cake in pink, white, and green, symbolizing health, purity, and growth.
• Hina-arare (ひなあられ) – Sweet, pastel-colored rice crackers.
• Shirozake (白酒) – A sweet, low-alcohol rice wine (or amazake, a non-alcoholic version).
How I Celebrated This Year
This year, I invited friends over and prepared chirashizushi along with a cheesecake inspired by hishimochi, layering it in pink, white, and green. It was a fun way to share the essence of Hinamatsuri while adding a creative twist!
Would you like to try celebrating Hinamatsuri in your own way? It’s a beautiful festival that brings joy and warmth, even outside Japan!
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