Boys Day 2011

Boys Day Kodomo no hi or Japanese Children's Day is a festival originally for boys ("tango no sekku") but which has been renamed for both sexes and is held on the 5th day of the 5th month.

Boys Day with dad and the flying fish

On this day families with newborn sons fly koinobori, beautiful multi-colored carp windsocks outside of homes to wish their sons a good future. Otoko means "boy" and sekku means "festival". The festival originated in China and later became associated with May rice planting in Japan. A set of streamers usually has three or more fish. The large black one (magoi) represents father. According to a Japanese children's song, the red one (higoi) represents the first born son.