03.Mar.2010 Hina Matsuri

雛祭り [ひなまつり] – Girls’ Festival

• 雛 [スウ・ひな] – doll; duckling
• 祭り [サイ・まつり] – festival; ritual; celebration

Today (March 3rd) is 雛祭り!  Excited?  Me too.

Platforms are covered with red carpeting and a set of dolls called 雛人形 [ひなにんぎょう] are displayed.  The dolls represent the Emperor, Empress, and their court, and all are dressed in the traditional clothing of the 平安時代 [へいあんじだい] or Heian period.