March 3rd is Japanese Girl's Festival known as hina matsuri (hina doll festival) or momo no sekku (peach flower festival). It's said that hina matsuri's origin date back to ancient Chinese purification rituals for getting rid of bad lucks. During the Heian period (794 - 1185) in Japan, people let straw or paper dolls float down the river or the ocean as their substitutes which take bad lucks away from them. This tradition remains today in some regions in Japan as nagashi-bina (floating hina dolls). The purification ritual was unified with aristocratic girls' playing with dolls, and hina matsuri was established as Japanese Girl's Festival during Edo Period (1603-1867).
It's common for families of girls in Japan to have a set of hina dolls wearing ancient kimono which is displayed at homes beginning sometime after Risshun (the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar) through March 3rd. The Empress doll (ohina-sama) and the Emperor doll (odairi-sama) are set on the top shelf. Then, sannin-kanjo dolls (three court women), gonin bayashi dolls (five court musicians), and more dolls. Hina-arare (rice crackers) and hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes) are placed by the hina doll display. Different types of hina dolls have been created around Japan. In some regions, hina dolls are hung from the ceiling called tsurushi-bina.
Many families of girls in Japan celebrate hina matsuri with special food, such as chirashi-zushi (colorful sushi), clam soup, sakura mochi (sweet rice cakes), and more. Although Japanese Girl's Festival isn't a national holiday, it's an important tradition for wishing girls happiness and good health.