Children’s day in Japan (子供の日)

source: http://photozou.jp/photo/show/138431/20792784

Children’s day (Boys festival) in Japan.

On May 5th in Japan. It is a national holiday called “Kodomo no hi” (Children’s day).
It is part of Golden week (a long holiday season) in Japan. About golden week, check my previous post. (http://www.dicethekamikaze.com/blog/jp-culture/golden-week/)

It is called children’s day, but it is the holiday for boys. For more information, wikipedia.

This day was originally celebrated wishing the boys in the family to grow healthy and strong.
Koinobori (carp streamers) are raised and flown outside as a symbol of strength, and May dolls (An armored Samurai doll) or miniature samurai warrior helmet (kabuto) are displayed inside of the house.

Two traditions:

On children’s day, there are two traditions in Japan.

1) Koinobori (Carp streamers)

2) Display May dolls or samurai warrior helmet and armor.

Around this time, even Colonel Sanders celebrates boys being May dolls.