Hinamatsuri, also known as Doll's Day or Girls' Day, is celebrated in Japan every March 3. This festival has its roots in the Heian period (794-1185), when it was believed that dolls could contain bad spirits. Traditionally, hina dolls were set afloat on boats and sent down rivers to carry away evil spirits; however, this practice has changed due to concerns about the dolls getting caught in fishermen's nets. Nowadays, dolls are sent directly out to sea, and after the festivities, they are taken to a temple to be burned. The celebration includes traditional foods such as hina-arare (bite-sized crackers), hishimochi (diamond-shaped colored rice cake), and chirashizushi (sushi rice topped with raw fish), along with sake made from fermented rice. Hinamatsuri reflects Japan's cultural heritage and is a time for families to celebrate the health and happiness of their daughters.