Hello everyone. Last week, we introduced you to the Japanese holidays from the end of April until beginning of May, what we call Golden Week. Children's Day on Sunday, May 5th made an appearance there. This week we will focus on that holiday. We will introduce what people usually do for Children's Day. We will also be sharing some great recipes for Children's Day, that can be enjoyed with or without children! Be sure to read this week's blog posts to get some ideas for Children's Day to enjoy it!
As some of you might remember it, we offered food and other shaped cute Japanese erasers to children at the store on May 5th in the past few years. We'll do the same this year! (It's going to be a gift with purchase while supply lasts.)
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Children's Day vs Tango no Sekku
Children's Day on May 5th is a Japanese national holiday established in 1948. It is a day to celebrate the healthy growth of children. According to the National Holidays Law that defines national holidays, it is “a day to respect children's character and wish for their happiness, and to thank their mothers,” making it a day to thank not only the children but also their mothers. It is also a day to celebrate Tango-no Sekku.
Tango-no Sekku was originally a court event to avoid illness and misfortune, but after the Edo period (1603-1867), it was transformed into a day of celebration to wish for a boy's growth and family prosperity. Because of this, it is said that the image of Children's Day as a day of celebration for boys remains strong even today.
There is a very important fact that even a lot of Japanese people are not aware. Children's Day and Tango-no Sekku are often confused because they are the same day, but they are originally different. The major difference is that Children's Day is a national holiday, while Tango-no Sekku is a typical Japanese traditional event that has continued since ancient times as an event to exorcise bad luck and disease. Children's Day is a day to celebrate all children regardless of gender and to thank their mothers, while Tango-no Sekku is a day to wish for the healthy growth of boys.
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The Ways to Celebrate Children's Day
Decorate Koinobori Carp Streamers Outside
In the Edo period (1603-1867), it was customary for buke, families and lineages with official positions that have military affairs as their main duty in Japan, to put up a Japanese-style flag called nobori when a boy was born. This was to notify the gods and the local community of the birth of the heir to the family.
Koinobori is said to have originated when ordinary townspeople who did not have a nobori raised koinobori made of washi Japanese paper instead. The five-colored streamer at the top of koinobori is said to be a remnant of the buke's streamer that served as a model for koinobori.
Five colors are used in the streamer on top. Blue (or green), red, yellow, white, and black (or purple). These are said to be the five colors of Shinto and are believed to be based on the ancient Chinese theory of the five elements. These five colors are said to be used to ward off evil. They also represents the four seasons. Blue (or green) represents spring, red represents summer, white represents autumn, black (or purple) represents winter, and yellow also represents winter.
Koinobori's koi means carp, a type of fish. Koinobori has a meaning of wishing for the healthy growth of boys and their success in life. It is a wish that the boy will grow up to be as big and healthy as koinobori swimming leisurely in the sky. Carp are also hardy fish that can live in places other than clear streams, such as swamps and ponds. Because of their nature, the wish is that they will overcome difficulties and grow up to be strong and resilient in the face of adversity, just like carp.
Decorate Gogatsu Ningyo May Doll and Kabuto Helmet Inside
Japanese households with boys display samurai warrior dolls called Musha Ningyo, which is now called Gogatsu Ningo (May doll) and/or samurai warrior armor and helmet called Kabuto to wish them to grow healthy, strong, and wise.
This custom originated in the buke society. In ancient times, the custom of celebrating boys by having them wear real helmets and armor changed and spread to the use of dolls instead. The beautiful, luxurious, and powerful appearance of ornaments will make the grown boy proud.
Since outside ornaments and inside ornament (koinobori) have separate roles, it is ideal to display both.
Dress the Children in Jinbaori Jacket
On the first Children's Day after birth, babies are celebrated by dressing jinbaori, a traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket. Jinbaori is said to have appeared in the Warring States period (1467 - 1615), and was worn by warlords over their armor and could take the form of a cloak or a kimono on the battlefield. At first, it was used for the practical purpose of sheltering from rain and wind, but it was eventually tailored to be splendid and became a kind of status for the warlord.
The babies are dressed in jinbaori in the hope that they will grow up to be as strong and sturdy as a military commander. It is characterized by its incorporation of the color red, which represents life force and is meant to ward off bad luck.
Soak in Shobu-Yu Iris Bath
The custom of bathing in iris bath also came from ancient China. In those days, May 5th was just before the rainy season in China. In ancient China, irises were used on various occasions to ward off bad spirits during the rainy season, when diseases and plagues were more common.
The iris leaves, which are 4 to 5 feet long, were also used to pray for longevity. They had a strong, distinctive fragrance and were often placed under the eaves of houses to ward off evil spirits. They were also soaked in hot water, worn on the body, placed under pillows, soaked in alcohol and drunk. Iris contains fragrant components such as terpenes and eugenol, which are said to promote blood circulation and relieve fatigue.
As this culture spread to Japan, it gradually developed into an event to celebrate the health and growth of boys, as the iris leaves resemble the shape of swords, an important weapon of the warriors, and 菖蒲 (shobu/iris) reads the same as 尚武(shobu/to respect martial arts). Even today, irises are widely used as an important good-luck talisman.
Eat Special Foods for Children's Day
Like the Thanksgiving turkey here in the U.S.A., there are special foods and dishes that are eaten to celebrate this holiday in Japan. Do you know what they eat on Children's Day? There are differences by region, but here are some typical foods. We will introduce them in the next blog post. Stay tuned!
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There is a lot of food items, housewares, stationery, and gifts available at the store and our online store, Maido! Kairashi Shop, where you can place your order for shipping or store pickup! Happy shopping. :)
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