Koinobori

This is late update but...

May 5th is Japanese "Children's Day."

It is mostly for boys while the "Girls' Day" is March 3rd.

For boys, their first Children's Day is really special, and people celebrate it all together.

As the special gift for Milo's first Children's Day, Milo's Japanese Jiji and Baba (grandpa and grandma) sent "Koinobori" to Milo from Japan.

Oh, what is "Koinobori"....?

Koinobori, meaning “carp streamer” in Japanese, are carp-shaped wind socks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate the Children’s Day. These wind socks are made by drawing carp patterns on paper, cloth or other non-woven fabric. They are then allowed to flutter in the wind. Landscapes across Japan are decorated with koinobori in honor of sons and in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong, and they will be very successful in their future.

A koinobori set consists of, from the top of the pole down, a pair of arrow-spoked wheels with a ball-shaped spinning vane, flying-dragon streamer that looks like a windsock, a black koinobori and a red koinobori. If more boys are in the household, an additional blue, green and then purple koinobori are added. Originally, the biggest black koinobori symbolized the father, the next biggest red symbolized the eldest son and ranging down to the smallest carp for the youngest son. However, lately people have said that the biggest one is for the father, the next biggest on is for the mother, and the small ones are for children, and the whole set of Kionobori symbolize one happy family. (I like the new way better!)

Anyway, we have had the Koinobori outside of our house and enjoyed seeing a Kionobori family swimming up in air.

Happy 1st Children's Day, Milo and thank you Jiji & Baba for the amazing gift!