March 3rd is known as hina matsuri(雛祭り), dolls' festival or girls' festival in Japan. Families with daughters celebrate this day by displaying hina ningyo(雛人形), hina dolls on a stepped shelf to express the wish for their daughters' good health and growth. The dolls are dressed in gorgeous kimono modeled after those worn by women in the ancient Heian court. This custom started around Heian era (794-1185) and became popular in Edo era (1600-1868).
On the top shelf there are dairi bina (内裏雛), representing the Emperor (o dairi sama：お内裏様) and the Empress (o hina sama：お雛様). On the second shelf there are three court ladies called san nin kanjo（三人官女）. On the third shelf there are five male musicians called go nin bayashi(五人囃子). On the fourth shelf there are two daijin(大臣) who are escorts (zuijin:随身) and guards(eji:衛士). On the fifth shelf there are 3 helpers (shitei:仕丁). Depends on the era and the size of the house, the numbers of steps vary.
Special foods for hina matsuri are diamond shaped rice cakes called hishimochi (菱餅), rice crackers called hina arare(雛あられ), clam clear soup, chirashi zushi(ちらし寿司), and white sake (shirozake:白酒).
We also decorate peach flowers (momo no hana:桃の花). This festival is also called momo no sekku(桃の節句), Peach festival, which is one of five festivals (go sekku：五節句). Other four festivals are nanakusa no sekku(七草の節句) on Jan. 7, shobu no sekku(菖蒲の節句) on May 5, tanabata matsuri(七夕祭り)on July 7, and kiku no sekku(菊の節句) on Sep. 9.
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