Kodomo-no-hi: Children’s Day every May 5th

Kodomo-no-hi (こどもの日: Children’s Day)

In Japan, May 5 is Kodomo-no-hi (Children’s Day). This holiday is to give thanks for the health and happiness of children. Once celebrated as Boy’s Festival and was for celebrating boy’s growing up, but now it has become a day to celebrate children in general. 5月5日はこどもの日です。この日は休日で、子どもの健康と幸せを願う日。かつては端午の節句と呼ばれ、男児の成長を願う日でしたが、今では子どものための1日として位置づけられています。

Samurai warrior helmet: A ornamental helmet for the Boy’s Festival

Families with boys set out ornamental helmets for the Boy’s Festival, patterned after warriors and heroes, and fly carp streamers from April through early May, in honor of Children’s Day on May 5. The tradition of flying carp streamers on a pole to wish the healty growth of boys is still observed as part of the holiday. Families with boys traditionally are given ornamental helmets for the Boy’s Festival by members of the family from the father’s side.

Warriors

Many people eat some traditional sweets “kashiwa-mochi” and “chimaki” to celebrate the special day. They are symbols of prosperity of their descendants or protective charm.

Kashiwa-mochi: rice cake wrapped in an oak leaf

Chimaki: cake wrapped in bamboo leaves

5月5日が近付くと、男の子のいる家庭では、武者や英雄を模した五月人形を飾ったり、鯉のぼりを立てます。お祝いの一部として、鯉のぼりを長い竿にたなびかせ、男児の成長を願う伝統習慣が今もあります。五月人形は、父方の両親から贈られるのがしきたりです。この特別な日を祝うために、伝統的な菓子の柏餅とちまきを食べます。子孫繁栄と厄除けのシンボルです。

Flying carp streamers

“Koinobori”, carp windsocks, carp streamers or carp banners, decorate the landscape of Japan. Carp have the strength to even swim up waterfalls and have long been taken as symbols of success in life. The tradition of flying carp streamers on a pole needs a space of garden. Recently, many Japanese live in high-rise condominiums called manshon, they can not set out it.