Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Tango no sekku

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French version

Tango no sekku

端午の節句菖蒲の節句五月の節句子供の日
alternative words: Tangono sekku, Tango festival, Shobu no sekku, Gogatsu no sekku, Children's day, Boy's day, Kodomo no hi, Kodomono hi
keywords: festival
related topics: Sekku , Momo no sekku , Edo period , Japanese doll
related web sites: http://www.sekku.com
explanation: One of 5 sekku. It is celebrated on May 5 of each year. Man taking bath with iris's leave because of its medicinal effect, it is called "Shobu no sekku" (shobu = iris), too. "Bu" of shobu being synonymous to "samurai", it has been transformed gradually to "boy's festival" with decorations of samurai dolls and their objects like armors and flags since Edo period, while farmers have introduced flying carps (Koi nobori): carp being considered a strong fish. It is now a national holiday.