In the past there was a practice in China of purifying oneself by the waterside on the third of March. This festival was combined with the ancient Japanese practice of nagashi-bina and playing with dolls, popular among the girls of the nobility. This became the seasonal holiday of Hina Masturi. Nagashi-bina was the custom of making simple dolls out of paper or flowers. The doll would be sent down the river as a representative of an actual girl in the hopes that sickness or ill fortune would be carried away as well. In time, the practice changed from floating the dolls away downstream to the current practice of displaying a collection of dolls.
Hinamatsuri was originally a tradition of the nobility. However, beginning in the Edo period, the practice spread to common people wishing growth and good fortune for girls. Hinaningyo (Hina dolls) have become the stand-in for young girls, taking away the misfortunes that might befall girls. The dolls are dressed up and the happiness of young girls is prayed for.