This Week in the OBUUC Children's Program 5/5/13

This week we'll be learning about Children's Day In Japan.  Children's Day takes place annually on May 5, and is part of the Golden Week. It is a day set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. 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 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 child.  So, we'll be making paper carp-flags!