Hina matsuri

On Girls' Day in Japan, dolls are put on display in the homes of little girls. I'm not sure what's the significance of this practice but I do know that these dolls cost a bomb (up to thousands on dollars) and that it's usually the maternal grandparents who buy them (thank goodness they are Malaysians!). Minori being the only girl in two generations inherited hers from her Japanese grandaunt last year.

Oh yes, there's one other thing... the dolls are supposed to be taken down and stored the day immediately after Girls' Day. If not, the girl will apparently marry late. Being the procrastinators that we are, last year and this we didn't take the dolls down until a week or so after... poor Minori.