Hinamatsuri

Hinamatsuri is the Japanese Doll Festival, or Girls' Day. It is March 3rd (the third day of the third month). The purpose of this day is for families to pray for the happiness and prosperity of their girls, helping to ensure that they grow up healthy and beautiful. To further celebrate families with daughters display special dolls to honor their daughters. The dolls are put on display before March 3rd, maybe about a month before. But they must be taken down immediately on the morning of the 4th, or else the daughter will not get married soon. In way of celebration, you can also eat some bite-sized rice crackers with your daughter.

I have a friend, Haruka, who is from Okinawa. She studied English in college, so she speaks it very well. We get together from time to time for lunch or coffee. She shows me the good sushi and answers my million questions about Okinawa culture. She is so sweet, for my birthday she gave me a bilingual book, with Japanese on one page and English on the other. Haruka loves Olivia (as do most locals here)! Well last week, we got together for lunch and after lunch she asked me to visit her house, so that her mom could meet Olivia. Her mother didn't speak English, but Haruka translated for us. Her mom had a gift for Olivia! She gave her the special dolls that you put on display for Hinamatsuri! It was so sweet. She said she doesn't have any granddaughters yet, so she wanted to give the dolls to Olivia and wish her well. I just loved it! I really enjoy learning about the different customs they have here. When we got home I put them up in our living room.
Here are the dolls on display:

There is a girl doll:

And a boy doll:

And there are the "biscuits" as Haruka called them that you can eat:

And don't worry, as soon as the 4th came, I took the dolls down and put them away, so not to delay her marriage. Although, Daddy said they could stay up until next year if that is the case!

And for those with boys, there is a Boy's Day on May 5th.