SEASONAL FESTIVAL
A Blessed Sunday to all.Just want to share our Seasonal Festival. As we all know Japan has 4 seasons, and for each of this seasons. There are also different celebrations and festivals. During the Boy's Festival
(Tango no Sekku) and the Girl's Festival (Momo no Sekku) on which the growth and good health of children are wished upon dolls, the suit of an armour and a helmet ate being displayed. These serves as protection against troubles, but for many this just serves as an old practice or tradition.
In Japan, if a young boy or a girl lives in a particular house, dolls and special ornaments are displayed during the season. They wish for the good health and safety of the children. During the Momo no Sekku or Hina Matsuri which is celebrated on March 3, the happiness and growth if a young girl is being celebrated while on May 5 which is the Tango no Sekku, this day became a national holiday, and was renamed Children's Day in 1948.
It is customary for parents to display Koinobori (Carp streamers) outside the house for their sons. Some homes put out Kabuto (Ancient Warrior Helmet) in hope that the boys will grow strong and healthy as warriors.
.........
Comments (8)
Hina Matsuri is being celebrated during March 3. This is called Momo no Sekku or 3gatsuJoushi.
This is called Joushi since this day falls on the first " Serpent Day". From the ancient Chinese tradition, they practiced offering or putting a serpent as an offering to the gods for protection. This was first celebrated during the Heian era (798-1185). Because of the odd number involved, they believed that the power of energy of the said is very strong.
Why it called Momo no Sekku?
It has been believed that Momo or peach, has the power to drive away evil spirits, or MAYOKE.
Nowadays it is popularly called Momo no Sekku (Peach Festival) because this is the season that the peach flower is in bloom and suitable to celebrate Sekku. Since peach usually blooms during early springs, and it bears so much fruit, this started the practice of decorating peach or peach tree branches for longevity and happiness.
The word Hina refers to the practice of making small dolls. The practice of playing with small dolls (HINA ASOBI) is usually done during this season. Therefore setting out HINA NINGYO is a family's wish that the girl will grow soundly to be a healthy and caring woman. In other words, it is a family's warm wish that the HINA NINGYO will be a substitute in preventing disaster to the child, and to obtain happiness in life, such as getting married. The HINA NINGYO SHOULD be set out between the first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar (February 4) and the middle of February, and at the latter week before this Sekku. When considering the original meaning of sekku as a making event of the reason, once the Sekku is over, the HINA NINGYO SHOULD be put away at the earliest day with good and dry weather and by at the latest.
...........
Tango refers to the first "Day of the Horse." Since the kanji character of the horse and the number 5 are similar, and so it is being celebrated on the 5th of May. It was celebrated during the nara era (710-784). There are different celebrations during the tango no sekku such as the birth and good health of a young boy.
Since the Edo period (1603-1867), due to the long years of wars and conflicts, the armor suit
(YOROI) and helmet (KABUTO) has been a part of the festival decoration as a wish for the strength and vigorous body of every young boy. The family celebrates a boy's birth and wishes for sound growth to become a strong and excellent man. In other words, protected by yoroi and Kabuto, the family protects against a disaster and gives blessing in life, such as success in entrance examinations, finding a good job and getting married.
If the suit of an armor or helmet is being displayed inside the house for health and protection, the KOI NOBURI (carp -decorated streamer ) are being displayed outside the house.
Carp have a very strong power for life, not only in clear water but also ponds and swamps. The old Chinese tradition says that the carp climbing up the rapid current and rising in a waterfall named Dragon's Gate turned into a dragon going to heaven (this story
Is the origin of TORYUMON meaning gateway to success).
Therefore KOINOBORI are decorations wishing for the success in life of a child to be able to withstand any kind of environment and become a good person. There is another theory that when a boy was born, the family displayed the KOINOBORI as the symbol to let the Gods know about the childbirth in order for the Gods to protect him.
HAPPY READING TO ALL
AND GOD BLESSED YOU.
Crystal for CS Blog
My explanation to that ( cherry blossom ) is on the comment space... My apology for not putting... To be continued.
Thanks for being around as always. God bless you.
Yours,
Crystal
I just lurvvvvve flying kites; a few years ago, was teaching my youngest daughter & I got the kite up about a Km high.
Nice being you around Sir.
Yes, I will invite you and your daughter to come here in Japan.
It's really spectacular one. It's a flying colors really.
Thank you very much; and God be with you Sir Elmo.
Yours,
Crystal
With lots of love from Welela to you.
Hello my dear and lovely friend.
I'm happy to heared that you enjoyed your weekend with your grandkids (ski). It is really so wonderful to share your time with a your loving family; it's really different to feel you are at home not in a house. Because it's really a different things.
See you around and take care yourself too.
With Love and Hugs,
Crystal