Tomorrow, March 3rd, is the Hina Matsuri 雛祭り or Doll Festival in Japan. The Japanese celebration seems to have originated in China, where there was a festival called Shang-suu that had also been celebrated on March 3rd, at least since the 3rd century AD. Shang-suu may go back before that time but the...

In Japan, on March 3rd, Hina Matsuri, people pray for their daughters’ future happiness, health and growth. Hina means doll and matsuri means festival, so Hina Matsuri is literally Doll Festival. It’s also Girls’ Day. Yet another name for the day is Momo no Sekku meaning Peach Blossom Festival, because this is around the...