Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day, at Japan House

2000 South Lincoln Avenue,Urbana IL 61802

07 May, 2022

Description

Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day, is very special in Japan. And it is at Japan House, too! Children ages 6-12 are invited to join us on Saturday, May 7th at 10am for a fun-filled morning of activities. After a short presentation and an opportunity to view the traditional Children’s Day decorations inside Japan House, kids will be divided into groups to work on origami (paper folding), ikebana (flower arranging), and kakudako decorating (paper and bamboo kites). Weather depending, the kids will be taken to an area to fly their kites and enjoy treats in a goodie bag. Cost is $20 per child; all materials are provided. Space is limited to 30. Parents are invited to stay and watch. End time is 12noon. Registration is required. This event will be held mostly outside, please dress accordingly. All guests will be asked to remove their shoes upon entering Japan House as is custom in Japan. Children’s Day is traditionally celebrated on May 5. Originally called Boy’s Day or the Iris Festival, it became a national holiday in 1948. Although it is technically for both boys and girls, most families still privately consider it a special day for their sons. The festival may have originated in China around the year 839, when people hung medicinal herbs from the roof to repel disease. In Japan, irises (shobu) were displayed instead as they were believed to repel evil spirits. An ancient custom still practiced in some parts of Japan involves bathing in water filled with iris petals, since they are believed to give strength. The warrior class further developed the custom in the 12th century. Shobu also means victory or defeat, which may explain the practice of giving little boys kites with pictures of warriors. In the Edo period (1600-1868), painted cloth or paper carp streamers (koinobori) began to be flown in honor of the day. According to an old Chinese fable, carp symbolize strength and worldly success because of all the fish, only the carp could swim upstream, fighting through rapids and waterfalls, to become a dragon in the end. The fish representing the oldest boy is the largest and hangs from the top of the bamboo pole. Younger sons carp are smaller and are hung lower on the pole. The custom of displaying samurai helmets (kabuto) and armor in the hope that the boys will grow up strong and brave also dates to that period.