Hinamatsuri

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 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

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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.