英语百科：日本女儿节

　　“女儿节”在日语中写作“雏祭”(雛祭ひなまつり)。“雏”原是幼鸟之意，在“雏祭”一词中指的是女性的人偶，因此女儿节也被称为“人偶节”。三月又是桃花盛开的季节，又有“桃花节”一说。

　　相关英语新闻：

　　Mothers and daughters in Japan are celebrating Hina Matsuri, or Girl's Day. Each year, it becomes an important rite of passage marked by the women of the family with special dolls.

　　The festival is always held on the 3rd day of March and it's known in Japan as Hina-matsuri.

　　In the weeks leading up to the date it's customary for parents with daughters to set up a special Hina doll display. Parents believe the dolls will protect their girls from evil spirts -- and the dolls will absorb rather than repel these dark forces which may endanger their daughters.

　　This special event at Tokyo's Sumida attracts about a thousand people every year.

　　Japanese businesses also like to join in the celebrations with their own displays. Some, such as this luxury hotel, have built up special collections of dolls.

　　This is LegoLand's Hina Matsuri-inspired display in Tokyo. Children can come here and make their own Lego versions of Hina dolls to go on a specially-made Lego design. And, the continuing popularity of this tradition means shops like Marugin continue to prosper.

　　Parents of girls born around the end of February rush here because they want to be fully-prepared for their daughter's first Hina matsuri.(英文文本 via CNTV)

　　重点解析 Key Phrases/Words

　　1. rite n. 仪式，典礼，礼仪，习惯

　　2. evil spirts 邪灵，妖魔鬼怪

　　3. repel v. 击退，使厌恶，抵制，使不愉快