Happy Children’s Day!

Today is Children’s Day in Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Korea and Vietnam . It’s a holiday! Isn’t that sweet? And how adorable are these children? The day was originally called Tango no Sekku, and was celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th moon in the lunar calendar or Chinese calendar. After Japan’s switch to the Gregorian calendar, the date was moved to May 5. The festival is still celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as the Duanwu Festival or Tuen Ng Festival (Cantonese), in Korea as the Dano Festival, and Vietnam as the T?t ?oan Ng? on the traditional lunar calendar date. It was originally for boys but was changed to include both genders.

Sekku means a season’s festival (there are five sekku per year). Tango no Sekku marks the beginning of summer or the rainy season. Tan means “edge” or “first” and go means “noon.” In Chinese culture, the fifth month of the Chinese calendar was said to be a month for purification, and many rites that were said to drive away evil spirits were performed.

Until recently, Tango no Sekku was known as Boys’ Day (also known as Feast of Banners) while Girls’ Day (Hinamatsuri) was celebrated on March 3. In 1948, the government decreed this day to be a national holiday to celebrate the happiness of all children and to express gratitude toward mothers. It was renamed Kodomo no Hi. Before this day, families raise the carp-shaped koinobori flags (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon, and the way the flags blow in the wind looks like they are swimming), one for each boy (or child), display a Kintar? doll usually riding on a large carp, and the traditional Japanese military helmet, kabuto. Kintar? and the kabuto are symbols of a strong and healthy boy.