By the Solar calendar, the third day of the third month, March 3rd, is called Girl's Day or "Hina-Matsuri" - Doll's Festival. This was once one of the important seasonal events of ancient China that has since developed into a holiday that incorporates Japanese arts and customs. It has been in existence in Japan since the Edo Period (17-19 C). According to the Lunar Calendar, "Momo-no-Sekku" or Peach Blossom Festival was held on March 3rd, but it is actually not until early April that the peach blossoms begin to bloom.

Families celebrate Hina-Matsuri to ensure their young daughter's future happiness. They decorate the best room in the house with "Hina-Ningyo," special dolls that are replicas of an ancient emperor and empress and their court. These dolls are often handed down through generations, antiques rather than toys. They are displayed for a few days only at festival time, but never past March 4th; this would be bad luck for the girl's future and may bring about a late marriage. The dolls are carefully put away until the next year. Families that do not possess such heirlooms purchase new sets of dolls for a daughter, and relatives and friends make gifts of dolls. Old country families still treasure their Hina-Matsuri doll displays, which have been preserved for centuries. Brides would take their own dolls to their new homes.

A set of at least 15 dolls dressed in ancient costumes usually comprises the "Hina-Ningyo" display, which often includes exquisitely crafted minature accessories and furniture. The prized dolls are the "Dairi-Sama," representing the Emperor and Empress dressed in resplendent traditional court attire made of silk. They are attended by three "san-nin kanjo" (court ladies), five "gonin bayashi" (court musicians) and sometimes other members of the court, all displayed on a "hina-dan" which is a tier of five shelves. The tier can be from 3 to 6 feet long and is covered with a red "hi-mōsen" (a carpet). The Emperor and Empress sit on the top shelf. The court ladies each holding sake equipment occupy the second tier. Five musicians occupy the third tier, each holding a musical instrument except the singer who holds a fan. Court officials, two ministers, plus banquet delicacies in beautifuly decorated miniature boxes are placed on the lower tiers. Behind them are miniature folding screens (byōbu), which form a background for decorated vases of peach blossoms and candles. Some regions place the dolls differently from left to right, but the order of dolls per tier is the same.

"Peach blossoms, symbolizing a happy marriage, are indispensable decorations of this festival day. The blossoms signify the feminine traits of gentility, composure and tranquility."

In the past, young Japanese girls would have their own special parties on Hina-Matsuri. The custom was for girls to invite their girlfriends to a party where they cooked and ate small cakes and food offered to the dolls. They drank Shirozake, a sweet mild rice wine, on this occasion. The main offerings were hishi mochi (small diamond-shaped rice cakes), fruit-shaped candy, tiny white and red osekihan (glutinous rice boiled with red beans) and colored wheat gluten.

Several interpretations have been given about the festival. The custom of displaying dolls began during the Heian period. It was believed then that dolls possessed the power to contain bad spirits. Originally, the ancient Japanese followed a custom called "hina-nagashi," which literally means doll floating. Crude hina dolls of paper or straw were made by people ~ men, women and children ~ and in making them they transferred their misfortunes or illness to the dolls. Gathering the dolls, they went together to a nearby river or stream and cast them, bearing all their troubles and bad spirits, into the water. Sometimes they were set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea. The Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto celebrates the Nagashibina by floating these dolls between the Takano and Kamo Rivers to pray for the safety of children. People have stopped doing this of late because fishermen were catching the dolls in their nets. Now when the spectators are gone they take the boats out of the water and bring them back to the temple and burn them.

"Families today observe Hina-Matsuri to encourage filial piety, ancestor worship, loyalty, but above all the love of children by Japanese parents, their joy and pride in them, and their desire to please them. This love often compelled poor parents to sell some of their belongings to buy dolls and decorations for the festival."

• To view a vintage photo of Japanese girls celebrating Hina-Matsuri click Here

More photos of beautiful Hina-Ningyo dolls:

• Beautiful, old, 15-piece Japanese Hina dolls, Tashio period, c. 1912-1926.

• Detail of Emperor and Empress, Japanese Gosho Hina doll set, Taisho period, c. 1930.

• Detail of a wonderfully rendered Gosho Hina Empress Doll, Taisho period.

• Japanese Hina court lady doll, Meiji period, c. 1868-1912.

• 18th-century Japanese Hina musician dolls, Meiji period, c. 1868-1912.

Doll photos: Jdollcollector