Hina Matsuri: An Event for Girls in Japan

02/15/202209/21/2023

Hina-matsuri is a Japanese event held on March 3rd to pray for the healthy growth of girls. Hina dolls are displayed, cherry blossoms, peach blossoms and other trees are decorated, Hina-arare and rice cakes are served, and a party is held to enjoy food and drink such as sake and chirashi-sushi.

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Hina Dolls

Hina dolls are believed to protect children from illness and accidents. For this reason, they are decorated with congratulations and wishes for the girls to be healthy and happy.
In the olden days, people used to make Hina dolls out of paper and float them down the river, “Nagashi-bina”, so that they would take away the bad things such as illness and injuries.  Nowadays, Hina dolls have become beautiful and expensive, so they are displayed in the house. The more dolls, the higher the price, and even the cheapest two dolls can cost more than 100,000 yen.

Odairi-sama and Ohina-sama

These two dolls are the main dolls. They are said to be imitations of the emperor(Odairi-sama) and empress(Ohina-sama). They are wearing gorgeous kimonos and hair ornaments. Ohina-sama used to be on the left side, but according to Western rules, they are now often placed on the right side.

Kanjo(Three court ladies)

These are three dolls of women who work in the palace where Ohina-sama lives, placed in the second step. In the old days, only women were allowed to enter the palace, so only female dolls are used.

Gonin-bayashi(Five musicians)

These are the dolls of five boys placed on the third step. These dolls have musical instruments such as Japanese drums and flutes, and are used to entertain Ohina-sama and Odairi-sama with music.

Hina-arare

Hina-arare comes in pink, white and green, and each of these colors has its own meaning.

Pink: ife
White: snowy earth
Green: Buds of trees

Eating hina-arare of these three colors is said to help girls grow up healthy and strong by gaining energy from nature.
There are also four colors of hina-arare, which represent the four seasons.

Hishi-mochi

Hishi-mochi are colored by gardenias (peach), poppy seeds (white), and mugwort (green).
Each color has a different medicinal effect and a different wish that is put into it.

Peach: protection from evil, respect for ancestors
White: prosperity of descendants, health, protection from bad luck
Green: protection from evil, good health

The order of the colors also has a meaning. From the bottom to the top, “green, white, peach” and “white, green, peach” are said to represent the sprouting of new buds from under the snow, the blooming of peach blossoms, and the arrival of spring. It is a symbol of happiness for the coming of spring and a wish for a healthy and long life for the girl.

The rhombus shape represents the fruit of the poppy plant, which has strong fertility, and is used to express wishes for prosperity and longevity. It is also said that the sharpness of the poppy seeds can ward off evil.