Monday 5 May 2014

Kodomo no Hi (May the 5th) 子供の日 五月五日

こどものひ
(五月五日)


May 5 is Children's Day, when families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of children.
The fifth day of the fifth month was traditionally called Tango no Sekku and was a festival for boys.


Some families make special lunches for their children. Can you see the Koi?




On Children's Day, families with boys fly huge carp-shaped streamers (koinobori) outside the house and display dolls of famous warriors and other heroes inside. The carp was chosen because it symbolizes strength and success; according to a Chinese legend, a carp swam upstream to become a dragon.



In recent years, as more people have moved into apartments and smaller houses, the carp streamers have also gotten smaller, and there are now miniature versions that are decorated indoors.


Also on this day, families often take baths sprinkled with iris leaves and roots. This is because the iris is thought to promote good health and ward off evil.

15 comments:

  1. I have 5 koinobori in my family.

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  2. konichiwa gall sensei.
    the boy in my family is only my おとうさん (Talson)
    Grace 2M

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  3. hello gall sensei i have a brother a mum a dad snd thats it (Flynn) Martin 6DL

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  4. Konichuwa, My family would have 3 koinabori including my younger brother mum and dad.
    Chloe 6DL =D

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  5. konichiwa gallseni i have 3 koinobori in my famils

    Mason Clark (6DL)

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  6. Its boys day and I feel happy. I have 4 koinobori in my family
    Max 2K

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  7. Hi gall sensei,
    I have 3 koinobori in my family. My younger brother, mum and dad.

    I wish Australia had a girls day and childrens day.

    Chloe 5N

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  8. Hi Gall sensei,
    I don't have only two koinobori in my family because I have a mum and a dad but I don't have any brothers, but I wish I did so that we would have three koinobori in our family. Any other comments about it please let me know.
    Ella 4M

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  9. Hi Gall sensei,
    I only have ni koinobori in my family, I only have a mum and a dad and I don't have any brothers, but I wish I had one because then I will have san koinobori in my family. If you want to comment about my message please let me know.
    Yours Sincerely Ella 4M

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  10. Hi Gall sensei,
    I only have 2 koinobori in my family which are my parents but I don't have any brothers and if I did I would have 3 koinobori in my family.
    Yours Sincerely Ella 4M

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  11. Hi Gall sensei,
    I have no koinobori in my family because I have no brothers

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  12. i have sun koinobori
    Tom Hockey 6DL

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  13. Hi Sensei
    I dont have any boys in my family so I wouldnt put up any koi

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  14. I have 4 koi in my family including my dad and mum offcourse

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  15. I have 4 koinobori.
    Me, Mum, Dad and Joseph.

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