Foreign Friday
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| Boy's Day - Koinobori May 1980 near Misawa, Japan |
On May 5th, typically Boys' 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), with one black carp for the father, one red carp for the mother, and one blue carp for each child (traditionally each son). Wikipedia
Girls' Day is in March, and to celebrate, families display all manner of dolls in their homes, many passed down from generation to generation.
That's a very interesting tradition.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat tradition.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. I never knew why the carp was an important symbol.
ReplyDeleteI never knew this!! now I like carp. Usually I do not!
ReplyDeleteInteresting!
ReplyDeleteI learned so much in this one post!
ReplyDeleteWe had one or two of those kite fishes growing up but I don't remember learning they were for boy or girl day. Hum, I wonder what happened to it? Maybe in the antique desk I have from my parents....
ReplyDelete