5th May 2021
The carp streamers are a symbol of children’s health and energy. Carp are called 鯉 (koi) in Japanese. In English many people say the word ‘koi carp’ which means the colourful carp type.
Many carp in the world are brown or grey but you can often see the colourful carp 錦鯉 (nishikigoi) in public ponds in parks in Japan. Koi have have been bred over many years in Japan to produce the bright oranges and red colours that many of these koi have. Now across the world some people keep these nishikigoi in their ponds in their private gardens as attractive fish for people to look at.
Koi can swim upstream against quite powerful water. ‘Upstream’ means the fish can swim up the river, in the direction away from the sea. This gives them an image of being healthy and strong.
Carp streamers or Koinobori in Japanese, are flown outside some family homes or in public places from April until sometime after May 5th. Made of polyester or nylon, you may see big groups of carp streamers hung across rivers, all blowing in the wind.
May 5th is Children’s Day. It used to be called Boy’s Day but the name was changed to Children’s Day in 1948. It is a national holiday.
These day the black carp streamer on the stand type display represents the father, the red one below it represents the mother and the one below the mother represents the children. At the top, above the black one, is a carp streamer with five different colours. These colours are related to protecting children and giving them strength it is said.
■ What do children do on Children’s Day?
■ Some people keep Koi in my country now. ～
■ You can see carp streamers hanging over rivers from the end of April. ～
■ Do you think Koi are beautiful?