May 5th is traditionally Boys' Day but has been changed to Children's Day in Japan and is a national holiday.
I got the following from Wikipedia:
I admit we didn't do much in Illinois.
We ocassionally hung up a carp for Jon, but that was pretty much it.
He has a beautiful traditional doll his grandparents gave him which is packed away carefully for his son... someday.
We enjoyed seeing carp swimming in the wind around our neighborhood today.
And as for our son, Jon who we named for the adventurous, pushing the limits seagull (Jonathan Livingston Seagull) ... he's given us more gray hairs than I can possibly count. From joining the Peace Corps, to being a firefighter, to traveling the world on a dime and a crossed finger, he's kept our lives interesting.
We celebrate the excitement and pride he's given us and wish him a happy day... hopefully with his feet planted firmly on the ground and not scaling some high mountain where he could make my hair not only turn more gray, but fall out.
We love you, Jon!
I got the following from Wikipedia:
Until recently, Tango no Sekku was known as Boys' Day (also known as Feast of Banners) while Girls' Day (Hinamatsuri) was celebrated on March 3. In 1948, the government decreed this day to be a national holiday to celebrate the happiness of all children and to express gratitude toward mothers. It was renamed Kodomo no Hi.
Before this day, families raise the carp-shaped koinobori flags (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon, and the way the flags blow in the wind looks like they are swimming), one for each boy (or child), display a Kintarō doll usually riding on a large carp, and the traditional Japanese military helmet, kabuto. Kintarō and the kabuto are symbols of a strong and healthy boy.
I admit we didn't do much in Illinois.
We ocassionally hung up a carp for Jon, but that was pretty much it.
He has a beautiful traditional doll his grandparents gave him which is packed away carefully for his son... someday.
We enjoyed seeing carp swimming in the wind around our neighborhood today.
And as for our son, Jon who we named for the adventurous, pushing the limits seagull (Jonathan Livingston Seagull) ... he's given us more gray hairs than I can possibly count. From joining the Peace Corps, to being a firefighter, to traveling the world on a dime and a crossed finger, he's kept our lives interesting.
We celebrate the excitement and pride he's given us and wish him a happy day... hopefully with his feet planted firmly on the ground and not scaling some high mountain where he could make my hair not only turn more gray, but fall out.
We love you, Jon!
Happy Boys Day, Jon! I only have a grandson, not a son, but what a beautiful and smart grandson he is!
ReplyDeleteI should get a carp for Edo and Kai. But if Edo were to read this, he would quip "Are you going to make gefilte fish from the ground carp?" Seriously, it is such a nice tradition, Boys' Day, or Children's Day.
ReplyDeleteI wish Jon and Edo could meet again, after all these years. Both your son and mine have grown up to be handsome and fine young men. God bless our children and keep them safe.
Edo was Jon and Tiffany's favorite babysitter! Art loves gefilte too with that red radish.
DeleteThis is such a nice tradition. I will call my grand children today. And my son (still my child).
ReplyDeleteI think your son has a great spirit and that you are justly proud.
Well, such a good looking guy has escaped marriage? Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteActually he's been with Sarah now for 10 years, but they somehow don't feel the need to get married. Still, I consider Sarah my daughter-in-law in spirit.
DeleteWhat a dandy-looking family! I wondered what the flying carp was about. I almost didn't find your friend's little boy around all of the huge carp! Mahalo for the history lesson. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteThat little boy is now a fine and wonderful doctor. I wish he were still living in Hawaii so I could go to him.
Deleteinteresting traditions!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the carp, they look amazing flying in the wind, my son John lives life a lot like your Jon, both john's a grey hair makers by the sound of things,
ReplyDeleteGray? Your hair is NOT gray unless you color it, Kay. I never heard of this tradition, but it's a good one. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf you click on the photo and blow it up, you'll see that I do indeed have a LOT of gray (white) hair. Actually I would love to have silver hair like yours DJan. Mine is so wishy washy.
DeleteWhat a fun tradition! Kind of like Mother's Day in reverse. That's nothing to 'carp' about!
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, our sons do contribute to our gray hairs.
Aww, happy Boy's day Jon!
ReplyDeleteAnything that celebrates our children is a good celebration:) I truly believe not a day in my life goes by that I do not celebrate my fine son and daughter.
ReplyDeleteHooray for Jon and thank you for being a firefighter.
ReplyDeleteAlthough he enjoyed his years as a Los Alamos firefighter, he is now studying International Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins. And then he and Sarah (studying International Affairs) will be off to more adventures to turn my hair even grayer.
DeleteYou gave Jon an appropriate name. He has certainly taken off like a kite on a windy day. Dianne
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if people live up to their names. Tiffany does like jewelry. LOL
DeleteI chuckled with your last comment lol His life is full of adventure starting with his birth in an elevator of course!! I'm glad we took some pictures too of our son's first Boy's Day. I wish I kept the dolls, swords and helmet though, instead I gave them to our son when he had the room to store them but I think it was thrown or I hope at the very least given away. I guess the celebration must seem a bit silly if you are not Japanese.
ReplyDeleteL...w
I'm going to be honest and tell you that I'm not all that sure we did much for Jon's first Boy's Day. We tended to forget a lot of those traditions while we were on the mainland. It was my grandmother and mother who would send the dolls and such to remind us.
DeleteAnother wonderful tradition, one I enjoyed learning about. Good for Jon, a son to be proud of. You have a beautiful family Kay.
ReplyDeleteIn sharing your family, you bless us. Thanks to you, Kay :-)
ReplyDeleteAloha
never heard of the holiday but I've seen those carp and kois
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tradition. Glad the girls get a day also. Jon may have given you a few gray hairs but that young man will not be cheated by life. He samples and tastes like some think about but only a very few do. Be proud Mom. You raised a strong, confident and secure in himself young man.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me. We'll be seeing grandson Caleb in a little while and I'll mention this. Maybe it will please my Japanese daughter-in-law.
ReplyDeleteI learned something new today. I had never heard of this holiday, or this tradition. It is a great tradition. As far as Jon goes, well, all I can say is, "You done good." Now, I know I used very poor grammar. Please forgive me for that, but really, you have raised an amazing, adventuresome, intelligent, good-looking son who obviously honors his mother and his father. The strong and healthy boy became a strong and healthy man who had the confidence to go out there and explore the world. Good job Mom and Dad!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading all your past posts. I saw the article about the segregated prom here in Georgia. I think a lot of this is due to the parents, not the kids. It is a shame. But you know, when I started work here in Georgia, when I went to our cafeteria at work I would go to any table there was some room, then realized that if I went to a table that was composed only of African Americans they would not like me to join them and that surprised and hurt me, so it looks like here it was both ways, which other people don’t realize. I usually ate at my desk, it was simpler.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of that holiday, but it is a nice one.
I bought a carp flag once just for a decoration but gave it to a friend when she had a boy.
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