Origami Hina Doll Instructions

About Japan recently posted easy-to-follow instructions on how to make origami hina (dolls) to celebrate the coming of Hinamatsuri(Doll Festival or Girls' Day) on March 3rd.

Hinamatsuri (literally "Doll Festival" in Japanese) is a time to wish for the health and future happiness of young girls. During Hinamatsuri, most homes with young girls display hina dolls, decorate them with peach blossoms and offer the dolls special colored and diamond-shaped rice cakes, white sake and other items.

Originally, dolls were used as substitutes to protect young girls from misfortunes and were washed away in the river with the perceived bad luck. That practice transformed into decorating dolls and spread throughout Japan in the Edo Period (1603-1868).