Girl’s Day (aka Hinamatsuri)

Held on March 3, the Japanese Doll Festival is a day in which families with daughters display a special set of hina-ningyo, or ornamental dolls and pray for their daughter’s growth and well being. The doll display itself is a multi-level platform which represents the Japanese royal court from the Heian Period.

For a festival such as this, it’s customary to have such foods like clams and arare (Japanese crackers flavored with soy sauce) and to have a sip of amazake (alcohol-free sake). Though this holiday is often associated with girls, it actually isn’t a national holiday like Children’s Day. Nevertheless, it is still a fairly iconic holiday that gets various mentions in Japanese pop culture.