Girls' Day falls on March 3rd each year and is a day to celebrate girls' health. An equivalent event for boys is held each May.
Parents put up a platform hina dan with dolls in their homes for their daughers. The dolls are believed to harbour bad spirits, and they represent the Emperor and Empress along with their attendees on the lower levels. The Emperor, holding a ritual baton is always seated on the top left, and the Empress holding a fan sits on the top right.
A giant hina dan at my local fire station with real ume blossons either side of the platform.
The dolls on the third level traditionally hold musical instruments, but in this case cute emergency service civil servants adorned the platform!!
It wouldn't be a true festival without businesses cashing in!!
It is important to take down the dolls before the end of the night. If the dolls remain overnight and thereafter, the celebrated daughter's future marriage will be delayed!
This is similar to the Christmas tradition of taking down the decorations after the 12 Days of Christmas to not get bad luck.
This is similar to the Christmas tradition of taking down the decorations after the 12 Days of Christmas to not get bad luck.
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