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The third of March is an exciting day for little Japanese girls. They call it Doll’s day. On that day any household which has a daughter aged between three and seven will decorate the house with traditional dolls. They represent the royal family and members of the court. They are extremely delicate and finely dressed.
    The dolls may have been in the family for several generations, or they may have been newly presented to the daughter of the house, usually by the grandparents. The little girls do not merely look at the dolls displayed in the houses. They themselves are dressed in elaborate clothes, again of traditional design. Then their parents accompany them to a special place. After they come back home, special rice cakes are eaten.
    Doll’s Day in Japan is for the girls, but the boys have their own turn later. Their festival occurs on May 5th, and this time the houses are decorated in another style, emphasizing a traditional male role.