5-5-15
The fifth day of the fifth month is Children’s Day also
known as Boy’s Day (Girls day is March 3rd). It is a day set aside
to respect children’s personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was
designated a national holiday by the Japanese government in 1948. It has been a
day of celebration in Japan since ancient times. This holiday also falls into a bigger event called Golden Week (combining this holiday along with two
others).
On this day, families raise carp shaped flags. The number of
carp is determined by the number of children you have plus one for the father and mother. The carp was chosen
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.
There are
festivals all around the Island and most take place near a river. There was a
festival right near the kids’ school along the river so as soon as I picked
them up, we headed to the river. The carp flags stay up all week and we have
driven by them several times, but it was totally different walking the streets.
There was live music, food vendors, and children running around everywhere.
Along the side of
the sidewalk were carps made in schools. It was neat seeing all the different
ones.
-----Fishing----
Preston and the kids have taken on a new hobby of fishing. They haven't caught anything yet, but are still having fun.
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