This is an old, old holiday. I think it’s been practiced in Japan for over a thousand years (in eveloving forms) and was brought here from China. Originally, dolls were made and floated out to sea or down stream in the hopes that a child’s misfortunes or pending illnesses would be transferred to the dolls and carried away. Now, the dolls are kept (often for a lifetime I think) and put on display for a short period of time leading up to March 3. They are supposed to be put away immediately after this date.