Children’s Day Koi lanterns in Japan

Children’s Day (こどもの日,) is a Japanese national holiday which takes place annually on May 5 and is part of the Golden Week holiday. Originally the festival was called Tango no Sekku 端午の節句 the “boy’s festival” (echoing the girl’s festival Hina Matsuri 雛祭り in March) but changed to included all children.





During Children’s day, Koi (carp) shaped lanterns are strung up. The black carp (Magoi) at the top represents the father, the red carp (Higoi) represents the mother while the other represent the children.



japansugoi