Children's Day

On May 5th, Japan celebrates Children's Day (kodomo no hi). This national holiday is dedicated to respecting children's personalities and happiness. Carp shaped flags are flown from the end of April to mid-late May. In Chinese legend, carps that swim upstream become dragons, and the carps blowing in the wind makes them look like they're swimming.

Often times, the flags are flown over rivers or fields. Communities will sometimes fly all of the flags of the neighborhood kids together on the same line- one flag for each kid (traditionally, each boy).