What is Kodomo no Hi in Japan?
May 5 is well known as Kodomo no hi in Japan. In English, Kodomo no hi is literally translated as Children’s Day. Every year, people celebrate it as one of the special days. In addition, numerous events take place all over Japan. It is a national holiday in Japan.
What is children's Day ( Kodomo no Hi)?
May 5th is Children's Day, or Kodomo no Hi (子供の日), and was originally known as Tango no sekku (端午の節句). It became a national holiday in 1948, but it has been a day of celebration in Japan since ancient times. Tango no Sekku was historically set as a festival for boys on the 5th day of the 5th month.
What does the carp represent in Kodomo no Hi?
The carp symbolizes the wish for the child’s success, regardless of his environment and of the circumstances. How to celebrate Kodomo no hi? Kodomo no hi, or tango no sekku, is celebrated on May 5, but the feast often begins on the day before. It is a family gathering favored by the succession of holidays during the Golden Week.
How do we celebrate Kodomo no Hi?
Households that have a boy will hoist fierce and colorful carp flags outside their homes, and you can witness the same in various public places across the country. Carps are the symbol of the holiday.
What is the history behind Kodomo no Hi?
Background Information. Children's Day was originally known as Tango no Sekku (literally nearing the seventh sign of the chinese zodiac, but usually translated as Boys Day)and was a celebration for boys. The holiday was officially changed to celebrate the health and growth of both girls and boys in 1948.
Why was children's day created in Japan?
In 1948, when the holiday was formalised as Children's Day, there was a clear desire to create a holiday to celebrate children as part of families, the state, and society, and to move away from the patriarchal past by celebrating the role of mothers.
How was Children's Day created?
Children's Day is celebrated each year on the birth anniversary of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, which is on November 14. Children's Day is celebrated as a tribute to Nehru. Nehru, fondly called 'Chacha Nehru' was born on November 14, 1889. He was known for his affection for kids.
Can a 13 year old celebrate Children's Day?
Whether they are 13 or 30, you should never stop showering unconditional love and affection over them on this special day. That's why we present here some fun and creative ways to celebrate Children's Day and make it super amazing for your adolescent, teen or adult kids.
Kodomo no Hi: back to the origins
May 5 was originally known as Tango no sekku (端午の節句), the Japanese equivalent of the Double Fifth which is a holiday celebrated in many Chinese households around the world. In 1948, the government changed the official name to Children’s Day.
How do we celebrate Kodomo no Hi?
Households that have a boy will hoist fierce and colorful carp flags outside their homes, and you can witness the same in various public places across the country. Carps are the symbol of the holiday.
The Armor and the Beetle
Families celebrating Kodomo no Hi will also decorate their homes with a samurai armor and a helmet miniatures, representing their wishes to raise strong and powerful boys. The armor (yoroi, 鎧) and helmet (kabuto, 兜) form the word yoroikabuto, which you will hear often around this time of the year.
Special dishes for a special day
Traditionally in Japan, there are special foods that go with every holiday or occasion, and Children’s Day is no exception. Japanese people cook chimaki (粽) for this holiday—a rice cake made out of steamed sticky rice, or mochigome (餅米), wrapped in a bamboo leaf—and kashiwamochi (柏餅), a sweet Japanese treat. Here’s how to try your own.
When was Kodomo no Hi declared?
In 1948 , the Japanese government declared May 5 as an official national holiday, to be known as Kodomo no Hi. Many of the traditions that began as Boys’ Day carried over to Children’s Day, such as the flying of carp and Kintaro imagery.
Why do people raise koinobori?
On Boys’ Day, families would raise carp streamers known as ‘koinobori,’ in honor of the legend of the carp that swims upstream to become a dragon. It was also customary to display a Kintaro doll. Kintaro is the name that legendary samurai Minamoto no Yorimitsu went by as a boy.
Where did Chimaki originate?
Another Children’s Day food, Chimaki, which is said to have originated in China, consists of a long, sticky rice cake wrapped in a bamboo leaf. (Note: neither of the leaves wrapping these rice cakes are intended to be eaten.) Children’s Day continues to be enjoyed even today.
What is the food that Japan eats on Children's Day?
Children’s Day in Modern Japan. There are also certain traditional foods that are eaten on this day. Kashiwa mochi is one such sweet: a pounded rice cake filled with red bean paste and wrapped in an oak (‘kashiwa’) leaf. Another Children’s Day food, Chimaki, which is said to have originated in China, consists of a long, ...
What is the tradition of Kodomo no Hi?
One of the other traditions of Kodomo no Hi includes measuring the growth of the kid every year. On this occasion at least once, the parents make their kids create a booklet where they can mark their growth.
Why is Kodomo no Hi celebrated?
Celebrating the health, happiness and individuality of children is deemed as important in Japan because they represent the future of the country. Kodomo no Hi or Japanese children’s day is a national holiday in Japan and celebrated on May 5th
What does "koi no taki nobori" mean?
There are many versions of this folklore, but the one with the most elements turned into an evergreen proverb — koi no taki-nobori, which literally translates into carps swimming up the waterfall.
A celebration whose meaning changed over time
Tango no sekku was introduced in Japan during Nara period (710 - 794) and first performed at the imperial court. Dignitaries decorated their head with sweet flags and gathered to receive kusudama (薬玉): spherical paper containers filled with medicinal herbs donated by the emperor.
How to celebrate Kodomo no hi?
Kodomo no hi, or tango no sekku, is celebrated on May 5, but the feast often begins on the day before. It is a family gathering favored by the succession of holidays during the Golden Week. As in all traditional celebrations, Kodomo no hi has its specialty dishes to enjoy with family and friends:
What are the different decorations and their meanings?
Also called satsuki nobori (皐幟) or koi no fukinagashi (鯉の吹き流し), the koi nobori is a pole placed in the garden near the house, decorated with carp motifs. The shapes can be made from paper or fabric, depending on the period, and flutter in the wind.
Where to see koinobori in Japan?
Contrary to Hina Matsuri, Kodomo no hi is not characterized by public celebrations. The Children ’s day on May 5 is celebrated at home, at small scale. It is however visible throughout Japan in decorated sites where families can gather:
History
The day was originally called Tango no sekku (端午の節句) – one of the five annual ceremonies held at the imperial court – and was celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon in the Chinese calendar. After Japan switched to the Gregorian calendar, the date was moved to May 5.
Celebration
On this day, families raise the koinobori, which are carp -shaped windsock (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon and flies to Heaven, and the way the windsock blow in the wind looks like they are swimming), with a black carp for the father, a red or pink for the mother, and one carp (usually blue, and sometimes additionally green and orange) for each child.
External links
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article " Banners, Feast of ".
When is Kodomo no Hi?
Fish fly. Schools have the day off. Every May 5, it is Kodomo no Hi or "Children’s Day" in Japan. Families fly koinobori banners in the shape of a carp (a type of fish) for each child in their house.
How to make a koinobori mouth?
Fit the piece of cardboard around the inside rim of the koinobori mouth. Staple the ends together so it forms a circle. Push the cardboard circle about an inch inside the mouth and secure with glue. Fold the inch or so of excess fabric or paper over and glue to the inside rim.
How to glue a Koinobori?
When glue is dry, turn your koinobori right side out. If using paper: lay first fish face-down on table and smear glue along edges, leaving mouth and tail with no glue so wind can blow through. Place other fish on top of first, face-up and press down along seams. Glue pieces of ribbon to the end of the tail.
What is the day of children in Japan?
Children's Day in Japan: Kodomo no hi. How pleasing it is to swim! Children are stars. Fish fly. Schools have the day off. Every May 5 , it is Kodomo no Hi or "Children’s Day" in Japan. Families fly koinobori banners in the shape of a carp (a type of fish) for each child in their house. In Japanese folklore, the carp is a symbol ...
Origins
Historically, the fifth day of the fifth month was called Tango no Sekku (端午の節句) and was a celebration for boys. The equivalent day for girls was Hina Matsuri which is still celebrated on the third day of the third month as the Doll Festival, but which is not a national holiday.
Traditional Decorations
A typical Children’s Day decoration inside a family home is the ngogatsu ingyō (五月人形 or “May doll”). This is a miniature samurai warrior set which has carefully arranged armor, a helmet, a sword and a bow with arrows. Clearly this decoration is an old Boy’s Day tradition which symbolizes the hope that young boys will grow up to be strong and brave.
Traditional Foods
Two special edible treats are served on Children’s Day. Kashiwa-mochi (柏餅) are soft rice cakes stuffed with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves. The oak leaves represent the continuing health of the family down the generations because it is believed that old oak leaves do not fall until new leaves have grown.
