May 5th is Children's Day or Boys Festival, traditionally a holiday in Japan and people start decorating two items to pray for the growth of boys around this time of the year. One is the armor ←link and the other is Carp streamer ←link.
Quoted from these two pages (wikipedia, Carp Streamer)
Koinobori, meaning "carp streamer" in Japanese, are carp-shaped wind socks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Tango no Sekku (端午の節句), a traditional calendrical event which is now designated a national holiday; Children's Day.
*The reason of why carp is used for the design
| The carp design is derived from a Chinese legend. In the legend, a carp which could successfully run up against a waterfall becomes a dragon (in Japan, it is believed that there are millions of gods and dragon is thought to be one of them). From this legend, carp is thought to be a symbol of success and people in Japan began to fly Carp Streamers to wish their child future success. |
There are many places we can enjoy these displays
carp streamer decorated outside of the very old Japanese house
I've realized that these lovely carp streamers are not decorated as many as some decades ago. They makes us feel warm; thinking there is a boy in the house and the thoughts of the parents. Although it might be a tough job taking them out and put them back, I hope people keep following this lovely custom.
8 comments:
Dearest Miyako,
Always quite interesting to read about your culture! You are such a great writer and I love this Boys Festival where people pray for the growth of boys!
Hugs to you from your American friend and admirer for your ability to express things so well in English!
Mariette
To Dearest Mariette,
How sweet of you to leave such a thoughtful comment here♡♡♡ Thank you SO much and I really appreciate it.
I am a bit worried that I will write almost all the topic of our culture I can think of near future p;)
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Miyko,
Que festival de cores lindas!
Muito interessante a cultura de seu país.
Passei pra lhe desejar uma linda semana! Abraços.
To Lucinha,
Oh how sweet of you to stopping by and I really am grateful for your sweet comment, my friend♡♡♡
Lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
I do hope the custom of flying koinobori will be kept, too! I just love the view of many carps swimming in the sky :-)
Dearest Tamago-san,
Yes, I DO share the same feeling, really lovely scene♡♡♡ Quite sad that we don't see these 鯉のぼり much here in my area.
And thank you SO much for following my other link pages, I really am appreciate for your thoughts♬♬♬
Love you always from Japan to my Japanese friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Thank you Miyako ...I love learning these pieces of your culture...I've actually seen windsocks decorated like fish (I see now that the are carp)...but I am guessing that most people here would not know the reason for the decoration.
Dearest Sallie,
How wonderful to have your sweet comments, my dear friend in America♡♡♡
I feel happy learning my own culture checking them through pc for my blog myself p;)
I DO hope you are doing fine♬♬♬
Lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
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