Kodomo-no-Hi

Kodomo-no-Hi (Children's Day)

May 5

Kodomo-no-Hi is a national holiday in Japan that was known as Boys' Day from the ninth century, but became a day for both boys and girls in 1948. Today the day is observed largely with family picnics, but some still practice the old custom of flying wind socks in the shape of carp, a common Japanese food fish. Households with sons erect tall bamboo poles outside the home and attach streamers in the shape of carp for each son. The carp supposedly represents the strength, courage, and determination shown in its upstream journeys. The festivities are part of Golden Week, which also includes Greenery Day (April 29) and Japan Constitution Memorial Day (May 3).

CONTACTS:
Japan Information Network, Japan Center for Intercultural Communication
2-7-7 Hirakawacho
Chiyodaku
Tokyo, 102-0093 Japan
81-3-3263-5041; fax: 81-3-3230-4107
home.jcic.or.jp/en/index-e.html

SOURCES:
BkFest-1937, p. 199
BkFestHolWrld-1970, p. 93
BkHolWrld-1986, May 5
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 540
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 220
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 330

Celebration day: May 5