Children's Day (Tango no Sekku)
As the 5th day of the 5th month (May), this day is celebrated in Japan as the Children's Day (Kodomo no hi). It is also known as "Tango no Sekku(端午の節句). The day was set on May 5th when Japan adopted the Gregorian calender.
This celebration is said to be originated in China during the 3rd century AD. In Japan, this celebration may have begun during the 6th century or so.
This day is usually celebrated as the Boys' Day as opposed the Girls' Day on March 3rd; however, it is generally known to celebrate the children in general and also as the day to show the appreciation towards the mothers.
Koi(carp) banners/flags (koi nobori) are raised. In China, it is believed that the carps do become the dragons after they reach the upstream. I feel that it is the perfect symbol of the strength and tenacity of the carps (female) to overcome the odds by going against the stream to reach the goal to lay the eggs.
Kintaro doll and/or the samurai kabuto (helmet), etc., are displayed as the reminder of strength, health, and the honor.
Kintaro is also known as Sakata Kintoki, and he was the famous hero with the unusual strength. He was born during the 10th century (956?) between Yaegiri (八重桐)and Sakata Kurando (坂田蔵人),who was serving the Imperial court in Kyoto. After the death of the father, the mother raised Kintaro in the Ashigara mountain.
Other legend has Kintaro's mother as the Yamauba/Yamanba(a monstrous female who feasted on the childen's flesh) and his father as the god of the thunder and the lightening. Also, there is another legend where the red dragon mated with Yaegiri and produced Kintaro. This legend is very interesting, for Herzeloyde, the mother of Parzival (of Wolfram von Eschenbach) had the dream where the red dragon appeared when she had conceived Parzival.
Hakone, where my 'home' is located, is the part f the Ashigara mountains!
There is a mountain named, Kintoki-Yama, located near where I grew up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Day_(Japan)
As the 5th day of the 5th month (May), this day is celebrated in Japan as the Children's Day (Kodomo no hi). It is also known as "Tango no Sekku(端午の節句). The day was set on May 5th when Japan adopted the Gregorian calender.
This celebration is said to be originated in China during the 3rd century AD. In Japan, this celebration may have begun during the 6th century or so.
This day is usually celebrated as the Boys' Day as opposed the Girls' Day on March 3rd; however, it is generally known to celebrate the children in general and also as the day to show the appreciation towards the mothers.
Koi(carp) banners/flags (koi nobori) are raised. In China, it is believed that the carps do become the dragons after they reach the upstream. I feel that it is the perfect symbol of the strength and tenacity of the carps (female) to overcome the odds by going against the stream to reach the goal to lay the eggs.
Kintaro doll and/or the samurai kabuto (helmet), etc., are displayed as the reminder of strength, health, and the honor.
Kintaro is also known as Sakata Kintoki, and he was the famous hero with the unusual strength. He was born during the 10th century (956?) between Yaegiri (八重桐)and Sakata Kurando (坂田蔵人),who was serving the Imperial court in Kyoto. After the death of the father, the mother raised Kintaro in the Ashigara mountain.
Other legend has Kintaro's mother as the Yamauba/Yamanba(a monstrous female who feasted on the childen's flesh) and his father as the god of the thunder and the lightening. Also, there is another legend where the red dragon mated with Yaegiri and produced Kintaro. This legend is very interesting, for Herzeloyde, the mother of Parzival (of Wolfram von Eschenbach) had the dream where the red dragon appeared when she had conceived Parzival.
Hakone, where my 'home' is located, is the part f the Ashigara mountains!
There is a mountain named, Kintoki-Yama, located near where I grew up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Day_(Japan)
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