Children’s day

The Japanese refer to the day as “Children’s Day,” but it is most of the time celebrated as the day
of the boy child. The children’s day was traditionally celebrated as the day of the boy child
during the samurai days. The celebration marks the signs of political correctness that many
countries are practicing presently. The event takes place annually on the 5 th of May and is the
final celebration of the golden week. The day has been set aside to respect the personalities of the
children as well as their happiness. The families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of
the children. The Japanese government designated it to be a national holiday in the year 1948. It
has been a day of celebration since the ancient times in Japan. The girl children are not left
behind in Japan because they also have their own celebration dubbed the “Dolls Festival.”
There are several events that mark the celebration on the day. The families raise the carp-
shaped koinobori flags. The carp shape is used due to the Chinese legend that says that a carp
swims upwards, turns into a dragon then flies into heaven. The people, therefore, have a liking
for the said dragon, and they believe that it is advantageous to the people in the society. The
other reason why a carp is used is the fact that a flags blow in the wind and they look like they
are swimming. The carps are given to all members of the family. One is given to the father, one
to the mother and another one is given to the child. Traditionally, each son is supposed to have a
carp. The families may also display a samurai doll that is riding on a huge carp, which is
representative of the Japanese folk heroes Kintarō or Momotarō and or the Japanese helmet
kabuto that represents strength and vitality. Several foods are also cooked during the event to
mark the feast. The foods include Mochi rice cakes that are wrapped in Kashiwa (oak) leaves are
the traditional foods that are served on that day. The event also uses the colorful fish that are
famous for fighting the upstream currents. The people pray for the boys to have health and

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courage even as they grow up. The children’s day is also a day where the mothers are celebrated
for the good works that they do in the lives of the children. The celebrations are also celebrated
by giving out sweets to the children because the children like them very much and it used to
enhance the celebratory mood in them. The rice cakes that are given to the people on that day are
often staffed with red bean paste ("About Japan: A Teacher's Resource | Kodomo no hi:
Children's Day Celebration | Japan Society," n.d.).
The Children’s Day has a rich history in Japan. The day was formerly referred to as Tango no
sekku, which is one of the annual ceremonies that are held at the imperial court. The day was
moved to 5 th may after the Japanese switched to the Gregorian calendar. It was originally meant
to celebrate the boys and their fathers, but tit was changed to include bot the males and the
females. Until the year 1948, the government decreed that the day becomes a national holiday
("About Japan: A Teacher's Resource | Kodomo no hi: Children's Day Celebration | Japan
Society," n.d.).
.
There are several reasons why the people in Japan celebrate the day. The main reason is to
celebrate the children and give them hope and courage to do their best in life and achieve their
goals. The other reason is to acknowledge the parents for the good work that they are doing as
they work harder to raise the children. I think the Japanese celebrate the Children’s day because
it is enshrined in the culture and they value the children very much. In our country, we celebrate
the day of the international children’s day on the 20 th of November annually. The day includes
the children of both genders, and a discussion is made of the challenges that the children are
going through and what can be done to solve the situation. There are similar events in other

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countries. For instance, on 20 th November, the Kenyans celebrate the Children’s day (Louie,
1991).
There are some interesting things about the children’s day that is celebrated in Japan. One is the
show of how rich their culture is. The Japanese people have an undisputable rich culture that
they identify with in any place that they go to. The other interesting thing is how the festival can
bring the people together for a common agenda. It shows that festivals can be used as
instruments of unity among people with the aim of achieving a particular objective in the society.
The other interesting thing is the food that the people eat on that day. It shows the love that the
Japanese people have with regards to their cuisines and their overall love for food. The value of
traditional food shows how people can use the tradition in fostering unity among the people for
the benefit of society. The celebration also shows the impact that various events have on the lives
of the people in the society. The human beings need to understand the value of their lives hence
events like the “Children’s day” that is celebrated in Japan is important in the lives of the people
in the society to the benefit of the society. It should be noted that events are good symbols of
national unity hence they should be embraced ("About Japan: A Teacher's Resource | Kodomo
no hi: Children's Day Celebration | Japan Society," n.d.).
References

About Japan: A Teacher's Resource | Kodomo no hi: Children's Day Celebration | Japan Society.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/kodomo_no_hi_childrens_day_celebration#sthash.eN
36EIoK.dpbs
Louie, E. (1991, May 1). For Children's Day, Sweets, Of Course. Retrieved from