Friday, April 29, 2011

Photo Friday: Koi Kites

May 5th is Children's Day, a holiday in Japan to celebrate (surprise!) children.


The most visible indication of this holiday's impending arrival is the koinobori, or carp streamers, displayed in front of households with children.


The black koi represents the father and the red represents the mother. A koi is added underneath for each son in the family, though more recently I believe one is added for every child. The koi are meant to represent the family's hope that the children grow up to be strong, as legend says that a koi who swims upstream will become a dragon. They look really cool on windy days, flapping in the wind as though they are swimming in the air.

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