Boy's Day

Boy’s Day used celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the lunar calendar (which corresponded to the end of May – beginning of July), and at present it is marked on May, 5th according to the Gregorian calendar. On that day in medieval Japan the festival of tango-no sekku was celebrated dedicated to the zodiacal sign of the Horse, one of the 12 cyclic animals of the traditional Far East calendar. On the tango-no sekku day the Festival of irises was celebrated in Japan (syobu-no sekku); and during the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate horse-riding contests between Samurais were held in the honor of the sons of shogun. Later, beginning from the Meiji epoch (1868 – 1871), when Japan transferred to the Gregorian calendar, this celebration became a public holiday – the Day of Boys irrespective of their class. After the Second World War it became a national holiday and was called Children’s Day.

In modern Japan in the families where there are boys, a ritual toy set of military attributes which symbolizes a young Samurai of the highest rank preparing for his first battle, is put out in their honor. Its main attribute is a figure of a Samurai boy in full armor (in a reduced version – only a Samurai helmet). Around the central figure toy weapons are placed – a sword and bow with arrows, torches, a figure of a saddled battle horse and a tiger figure as well as two poles: one with three little carps (wish for successful career), another with a flag with Samurai coats of arms or aphorisms. During the festival dolls can also be put out that depict great warriors of ancient and medieval Japan; in the streets people launch kites and install high poles with huge paper carps flying in the wind. On this day boys are given presents and are treated with ritual dishes.

Set of toys for Boy's Day. Museum exposition.		Toy samurai armor. Japan. The Japanese. 1980s.		Paper carps during the Boy's Festival. Japan. The Japanese. Maykova N., 2006
The Boys' Day. Japan. The Japanese, early 20th c.