April 25, 2010

The Boys' Festival(Children's Day)

Hida Takayama Tango-no- Sekku.

Date: 5th May to 5th June
Place: Various locations throughout the city, including tourist facilities and historic houses such as Hida-no-sato(Hida Folk Village)


In Japan,May 5th is called "Kodomo-no-hi".
Traditionally,it is a celebration for boys.
Many families decorate a "kabuto" which is a samurai helmet or a "gogatsu ningyou",
a samurai doll.
It is believed that they protect boys' health and happiness.


We also fly "Koinobori" outside of our houses. Koinobori are big carp-shaped streamers on a long pole.

The pole is about 5-6 meters tall, so on windy days, the carps look like they are swimming in the sky.

They symbolize future success because carps are said to climb waterfalls without giving up.

The song of "Koinobori" says that Koinobori swim freely above the roof in the sky, however now in Japan it is not always in that way anymore.
If you live in a house with a garden, you can set up a tall pole with Koinobori, otherwise miniature Koinobori are hanged with stick outside apartments and condominiums.
Some family don't set up Koinobori anymore, they donate Koinobori to city , groups.
They set up many Koinobori along the river and building.

I found one group of Koinobori at GERO city.

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