Notes

The doll festival of Japan is also known as Hinamatsuri which is also called Doll's Day or Girls' Day. Hinamatsuri is a religious holiday in Japan, celebrated on 3 March of each year. Hinamatsuri is one of the five seasonal festivals that are held on auspicious dates of the Chinese calendar like the first day of the first month, the third day of the third month, and so on.The primary aspect of Hinamatsuri is the display of seated male and female dolls that are usually described as the Emperor and Empress of Japan.The dolls are usually seated on red cloth.The hinakazari spends most of the year in storage, and girls and their mothers begin setting up the display a few days before 3 March boys normally do not participate.Traditionally, the dolls were supposed to be put away by the day after Hinamatsuri. Historically, the dolls were used as toys,but in modern times they are intended for display only.The display of dolls is usually discontinued when the girls reach ten years of age.During Hinamatsuri and the preceding days, girls hold parties with their friends.Typical foods include hina-arare, chirashizushi, raw fish and vegetables on rice in a bowl, hishi mochi, ichigo daifuku,Sakuramochi and ushiojiru, clam soup.The customary drink is shirozake, sweet sake.