From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Hinamatsuri or Hina Matsuri (雛祭 , in kana: 雛まつり) is the Doll Festival in Japan. On 3rd of March, people display dolls (人形; ningyō) dressed in old-style kimonos.
It is a celebration especially for girls. Formerly people believed the dolls possess the power to conseal bad spirits in their bodies and will save the owner from dangerous encounters.
The origin of hinamatsuri is hinanagashi where paper dolls are put into a boat and sent on a journey down a river, taking with them the bad spirits.
The customary drink for the festival is amazake, a sweet beverage made from fermented rice or sake lees.
