Labels of the Hinamatsuri : The Japanese Doll Festival, or Girls Day

Hinamatsuri 

Doll's Day or Girls' Day, is a special day in Japan.  Hinamatsuri is celebrated each year on March 3. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形 hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period. (from Wikipedia)

The custom dates from the Heian period (roughly 800~1200 AD) and emerged from a notion the dolls could protect one from–and thus “contain”–evil spirits. The “possessed” dolls were subsequently released in the rivers of Kyoto to float to the sea, taking their evil spirits along for the ride. (source: http://www.sse-franchise.com/soapbox/201203/03/the-japanese-doll-festival-or-girls-day/ )