Kabuto battle helmets and figurines of a boy riding a carp are displayed in the homes of families with children and colorful koinobori carp streamers swim on the warming spring winds from flag poles across the nation. Children’s Day, the final of the Golden Week holidays, sets the stage for itself and for the whole of Golden Week long before its arrival, and being about the health, happiness and vitality of Japan’s children what excuse is there for not going all out?
The 5th of May is Children’s Day, or Kodomo no Hi in Japanese. With its signature koinobori streamers being put up as early as mid-April it’s one of Japan’s most visible holidays. It also has one of if not the longest history of any holiday in the calendar year. Children’s Day traces its roots back to a festival called the “Tango no Sekku,” or the 5th seasonal festival, that was introduced to Japan by China sometime between 593 and 628. The event coincided with the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and was observed on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The original timing of the Tango no Sekku placed it near the summer solstice and with the sun and the dragon being masculine symbols in the Chinese tradition the Tango no Sekku became a holiday about boys and a celebration of and prayer for their health and vitality in life (girls in Japan have their own event, the Hina Matsuri, on March 3rd). A legend about a carp turning into a dragon after battling its way upstream to the headwaters of the Toryumon River gave rise in the Edo-era (1603-1868) to the tradition of the koinobori. Originally samurai families with sons would display a black koinobori, known as a “magoi,” which represented the father of the family and his prayers and well wishes for his son or sons. In the Meiji period (1868-1912) a red koinobori known as a “higoi,” representing the mother was added to the tradition, and from Showa-era on (1926-present day) people began hanging a blue koinobori, the “kogoi,” representing the first born son. Additional koinobori can be added for each child a family has.
After World War II the male aspect was toned down by making Tango no Sekku into Kodomo no Hi and the health and well-being of girls as well as a gratitude for mothers and their roles were added the holiday. Despite the toning down of the masculinity many male symbols and traditions remain in the present day Children’s Day traditions. When the Kamakura Shogunate was established in 1192 it gave rise to the samurai warrior class and created a drive for warrior spirit in boys and men. The tradition of displaying samurai dolls in helmet and armor or just a helmet and armor was born at this time to promote that warrior spirit and inspire a family’s children to find the strength, bravery and perseverance they would need to succeed in life. Another Children’s Day tradition with a connection to the warrior spirit is the practice of soaking in an iris bath. The Japanese words for iris (菖蒲) and warrior spirit (尚武) are both read, “shobu.” It is believed that iris flowers and their leaves have prophylactic properties which can prevent disease and allow one to stay strong healthy making it an important part of the holiday.
Every good holiday has a special food item to go with it and Children’s Day is no exception. Kashiwamochi, a chewy ball of rice cake stuffed with anko red bean paste and wrapped in an oak leaf is the traditional food of the day. Oak trees do not shed their old leaves until new ones have grown in so they are seen as symbols of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. The oak leaf represents a passing on of that wisdom and prosperity to anyone who has kashiwamochi. The wisdom and prosperity of the oak tree, the disease fighting properties of an iris bath and the strength, bravery and determination of the warrior spirit inspired by armor, helmets and carp. Can you imagine a more full package of things a child needs to grow and succeed?
Works consulted: http://study.gaijinpot.com/lesson/holidays/childrens-day/ http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/kodomo-no-hi http://kids.asiasociety.org/explore/childrens-day-japan-kodomo-no-hi http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/kodomo_no_hi_childrens_day_celebration http://jamesmys.blogspot.jp/2009/04/tango-no-sekku-boys-day.html http://www.bite-japan.com/kako/calendar05-e.html http://www.crosscurrents.hawaii.edu/content.aspx?lang=eng&site=japan&theme=cal&subtheme=CULTURHOL&unit=JCAL020 http://www.goshiki-japan.com/culture_art/cul_02_1.html http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/the-japanese-boys-festival-is-called-tango-no-sekku/ http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/may/children.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Day_(Japan) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tango_no_sekku https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duanwu_Festival https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%93%E3%81%84%E3%81%AE%E3%81%BC%E3%82%8A
Pixeltoo