CHILDREN’S DAY in JAPAN seen by children! (KODOMO NO HI)

Children’s Day “こどもの日” (こども kodomo means children and 日 hi means day) is celebrated every May 5th in Japan.

Some years before, this day was dedicated only to male children, since the girls’ day was March 3, the day called ” Hinamatsuri “.

On Children’s Day, many festivals are held, gifts are given to children, and special decorations are put on. One of them is the “鯉幟”（こいのぼりkoi nobori), where 鯉 koi means carp (fish) and 幟 nobori means flag.

These ornaments vary in size and are placed on the roofs of the houses where they have children, where the largest (black) represents the father, the next (red) the mother and the following each of the children.

The “Koi nobori” represents the strength and tenacity of carp swimming against the current, thus hoping that children, with this same spirit, grow up strong and healthy.

Another ornament that is placed for this day is the “兜 (かぶと kabuto) which is the traditional helmet of Japanese armor and that through the years was used even by the samurais.

As part of the tradition, on this day the height of each of the children in the house is usually measured. Houses in Japan usually have a wooden column or a space where the height of the children is marked year after year. There is a song “背くらべ (Sei kurabe) where this tradition is talked about.

In many parts of the city events are organized from plays, treasure hunts, cardboard mazes, among many other games. Outside there are also stalls with food, sweets and drinks to enjoy this day with the family.

How is children’s day in your city? Leave us your comment!