Kodomo no Hi: it’s children’s day!

Though its name doesn’t say so, Kodomo no Hi (children’s day) is a day dedicated to little boys, as says its original name Tango no Sekku (boys’ day). The girls have their own day on March 3, on Hina Matsuri (dolls’ celebration).

In the past, boys traditionnally received their samurai armor, but nowadays it’s an opportunity for parents to pray for their son to become strong and brave, and to be healthy. To ward off bad luck, people hang shôbu (iris) and yomogi (artemisia) leaves at their doors. Children take iris scented baths and are sometimes even allowed to drink iris sake.

Though it’s boys’day, girls are not entirely left aside. They are the boys’ guests who traditionally have to offer them pastries prepared for the occasion.

The best known element of May 5 is probably the koi nobori (literally "carp banner"), hanging everywhere in the gardens of all the homes that have a boy, and above rivers. The carp symbol comes from an old Chinese legend that tells about a carp that swam up the Yellow River to change into a dragon fly up into the sky. The fish thus symbolizes strength and stamina. All those rites are part of wishing the kids happiness and good health.

• There are several types of koi nobori, each one standing for a member of the family:
• On top, the first one, the biggest and black (magoi), for the father
• Beyond, a second red one (higoi) for the mother
• And a smaller extra carp for each child in the family
• Sometimes there is also a multicolored banner (fukinagashi) symbolizing the tide of the river