Hinamatsuri

Today at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we have something to celebrate. We are travelling to Japan to celebrate Hinmatsuri. Are you joining us?

Hinamatsuri, known as Doll´s Day, is held every year on March 3rd. This is a day to pray for young girl’s growth and happiness so this is why it is also called Girls´ Day.

The origin of Hinamatsuri is an ancient Chinese practice in which the sin of the body and misfortune are transferred to paper dolls, and then removed by leaving the paper dolls floating down a river. This rite was called hina-nagashi.

This custom was spread during the Edo Period, and people started to place the dolls on a tiered platform called hinadan covered with red felt.

A girl´s first Hinamatsuri is called hatsuzekku. Grandparents usually give their grandaughters a set, a five or seven-tiered stand, with dolls and different ornaments representing the Emperor and Empress of the Heian period.

The platform is decorated with peach blossoms because peaches are related to women and this festival is also known as Momo no Sekku.

Most families place the hinadan around mid-February and put it away again as soon as Hinamatsuri is over. This is because there is an old superstition that believes that families who are too slow putting back the dolls sets will have trouble marrying off their daughters.

Hinamatsuri Day has a traditional song called Ureshii hina matsuri (happy Girls´Day), which is very famous between Japanese people.

There are some special dishes for Hinamatsuri. A very typical dish is hina arare, diamond-shaped rice cakes, which are believed to protect girls from bad luck. People also drink shirozake, sweet white sake.

At the 5 stars resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa everything is designed for parents and children to enjoy a unique experience. What are you waiting for to enjoy a few days off at the best Hotel in Europe and the Mediterranean for Families (Condé Nast Johansens Award)?