Children's Day (Japan)
childrens day こどもの日 kodomo hi public holiday japan take place annually may final celebration golden week day set aside respect childrens personality celebrate happiness designated national holiday japanese government day celebration japan since ancient time childrens day officially day wish happiness male female child since origin tango sekku day boy kamakura period th century midth century custom childrens day still retain vestige time day originally called tango sekku 端午の節句 – one five annual ceremony held imperial court – celebrated fifth day fifth moon lunisolar calendar tango sekku originally day woman purify house thatching roof iris believed effective repelling evil spirit woman rest body changed day boy kamakura period – samurai class took control government reason iris plant represented samurai leaf shaped like blade japanese sword word shōbu 尚武 mean value military affair pronunciation iris 菖蒲 therefore considered auspicious plant samurai since period yabusame japanese horseback archery held may way ward evil spirit custom displaying mini japanese armor kabuto helmet childrens day called gogatsu ningyo may doll origin kamakura muromachi period – samurai used take armor kabuto japanese sword storage box may rainy season take care since time tango sekku began display armor kabuto japanese sword hope protecting child edo period – tango sekku celebration became extravagant samurai household began display samurai doll musha ningyo 武者人形 addition real armor kabuto japanese sword ordinary household began display paper kabuto custom bathing bathtub iris may began period custom decorating koinobori carp streamer childrens day originated edo period – edo period samurai household began decorate yard nobori fukinuke 吹貫 flag colored mon family crest represent military unit tango sekku nobori fukinuke merged first koinobori appeared edo tokyo colorful koinobori know today became popular meiji era – japan switched gregorian calendar date moved may childrens day known boy day also known feast banner celebrating boy recognizing father counterpart hinamatsuri girl day march name changed childrens day include male female child well recognizing mother along father family quality unity showa era – popularity shifted samurai doll miniature armor since st century miniature kabuto become popular probably due size japanese house day family raise koinobori carpshaped windsock chinese legend carp swim upstream becomes dragon fly heaven resemblance waving windsock swimming fish black carp father red pink mother one carp usually blue sometimes green orange child traditionally celebrated boy day red koinobori eldest son blue additional color younger brother modern time japanese family usually display miniature japanese armor kabuto called gogatsu ningyo may doll childrens day doll usually made style ōyoroi dōmaru popular heian – kamakura period – showy appearance tōsei gusoku style armor sengoku period also kabuto made fit size boy head actually worn formal gogatsu ningyo displayed tiered shelf yumi bow tachi long sword japanese war fan jingasa samurai hat edo period samurai doll common miniature armor kabuto japanese folk hero momotarō kintarō ushiwakamaru benkei emperor jinmu shoki often chosen subject kashiwa mochi sticky rice cake filled red bean jam wrapped oak leaf chimaki sticky sweet rice wrapped iris bamboo leaf traditionally served day oak leaf used kashiwa mochi said tree whose old leaf fall new leaf appear considered goodluck charm representing prosperity offspring since iris believed medicinal property ward evil used various purpose may example people would take bath iris bathtub soak thinly sliced iris root leaf sake drink put iris thin washi japanese traditional paper putting pillow going bed shichigosan childrens day double fifth tết đoan ngọ kid web japan video child day fukushima japan video child day coffs harbour australia