Households with daughters mark this day by displaying ‘hina ningyo’ (dolls) at home before the unofficial holiday.
Hina dolls, ‘hina ningyo‘, dressed in Heian Era imperial court clothing. The traditional event is said to have begun in the Heian Period, a time when people believed that dolls had the power to control evil spirits.
Restaurants, hotels, schools, shrines and public spaces in Japan showcase the dolls just as they do with Christmas displays every year.
The dolls must be put away soon after the March 3 festivities. According to an old Japanese superstition, families that put away the dolls too late would have trouble marrying off their daughters.
