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Hinamatsuri no tabemono (Hinamatsuri Food)

Hishimochi

Lozenge-shaped (diamond-shaped) rice cakes, usually consisting of three distinct colored layers (sanshoku means "three colors"), derived from an idea in ancient philosophy that these colors were protection against evil and danger. The topmost, pink (aka) layer resembles the peach blossoms that chase evil spirits away. The middle, white (shiro) layer symbolizes snow and purity. The bottom, green (ao) layer represents health. The cakes are offered to the ministers on the fourth tier, and sometimes to the three ladies-in-waiting on the second tier.

Hina-arare

Rice crackers placed on the second tier as an offering. Like the hishimochi, it often comes in red, green, and white colors.

Shirozake

White rice wine, made by fermenting sweet rice and malt, that has been a customary drink for Hinamatsuri since the Muromachi period (1392-1473). Kids also drink the wine, so the alcohol content is relatively low; however, recently, it has been replaced with amazake, sweet half-sake.