Today is March 3rd. In Japan, ひな祭 (“Princess Festival“) is celebrated on this day.
This day used to be called “Girls Day” (and sometimes still is) because families will daughters display elaborate sets of dolls of the Emperor and Empress of Japan and the Royal court.
It’s often called “Doll Festival” too.
The dolls are displayed on a staircase-like stage with the Emperor and Empress at the top and the royal court arranged by rank (the lowest “step” having the lowest “ranked” members of the court).
We have three daughters so of course we have a display of dolls like this. But now that my kids are getting older, we don’t display the dolls anymore. It’s too much work! 😉
Japan also celebrates 「子供の日」 (“Children’s Day“) on May 5th…this holiday used to be called “Boys Day” because families with a son display 「鯉のぼり」 (“Carp Streamers“) and a Samurai display.
On May 5th, Carp Streamers are flown by familes with a son.
Anyways, many families in Japan with daughters set up their Doll Festival sets in late February and take them back down promptly on March 4th (the day after the holiday) because it’s an “Old Wives’ Tale” in Japan that daughters in families that delay putting the dolls away will have difficulty finding a future husband.
If you want to see a ひな人形 (“Princess Festival” doll-set) on display, you should visit 勝浦 (Katsuura, Chiba, Japan) on March 3rd. They have a huge display every year.
And, as they often do for world holidays, Google‘s logo is presently representing Japan’s 「ひな祭」 (“Princess Festival“).
Does your country have special holidays for children too?
Tokyo Five 
I really like ‘Girls Day’ in Japan, with all the dolls laid out majestically on display. The only celebration in my community that children truly enjoy is the celebration of Aidilfitri or Eid El Fitr as its commonly known in other Muslim countries.
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>the celebration of Aidilfitri
How is that holiday celebrated?
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We celebrate Aidilfitri after a month of fasting during Ramadan. Its like Christmas without the mad shopping of gifts but with family get together and feasts, little kids enjoy wearing their new clothes and receiving green packets containing money.
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>family get together and feasts…kids enjoy…receiving…packets containing money.
This part sounds more like New Years in Japan than Girls Day.
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Yeah, you can surely say that those holidays have their respective junk food themes. Fortunately, my girls never acquired that “sweet tooth”. They enjoy yogurt, granola bars and salads as “treats” more than anything. (!) That makes me happy, I’ll say. They will eat candy, only once in awhile.
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>my girls…enjoy yogurt, granola bars and salads as “treats” more than anything.
Really? They eat very healthy! That’s great.
My kids also eat yogurt and salad often (granola bars aren’t as popular here as the are in America)…but they still like “junk food” a lot!
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Happy Girls Day! Yes, the U.S. has special holidays for children: Christmas, Halloween and Easter are HUGE for my girls. Granted, these holidays are also enjoyed by adults too. Now, after reading this post, I have Motley Crue’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” playing in my head! 🙂
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>Happy Girls Day!
Thanks.
>the U.S. has special holidays for children: Christmas, Halloween and Easter
X-mas and, to some extent, Halloween are celebrated in Japan too.
Easter is unheard of here…in fact, I can’t even remember when that holiday occurs. Sometime in the spring, if I remember correctly.
I meant, though, do other countries have a holiday specifically for girls and one for boys, like we do here?
>my girls
How old are your daughters?
>Motley Crue’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” playing in my head
Cuz you’re a real metalhead! 😉
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No, no such holidays for just “boys” or “girls” here in the U.S… unless you count individual birthdays!
Easter falls on a different day in April each year… there have been times when Easter fell one of the last Sundays of March. I don’t know how it’s figured out.
Yup… Metal does seem to seep out of my every thought it seems!
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>Easter
On that holiday, kids paint eggs and then eat a basket full of junk-food.
Between Valentines, Easter and Halloween, America has plenty holidays that center around junk-food!
>Metal does seem to seep out of my every thought it seems!
Nothing wrong with that!
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