Where do these colorful flags originate?
What is the story behind them?
How are the details of their design significant?
Answers:
Where do these colorful flags originate?
These colorful carp flags are from Japan, where they are called koinobori. They are flown in celebration of Children's Day, a national holiday celebrated on May 5 each year. Children's Day is a part of Golden Week in Japan, a week-long holiday in which many workers are given time off for leisure.
What is the story behind them?
In Japan, the holiday of Children's Day was created in 1948 to replace the centuries-old "Boys' Day" holiday. Carp (specifically, koi) are known as vigorous, energetic fish and therefore symbolize courage and determination, traits traditionally encouraged in Japanese boys. When the holiday changed over in 1948, the carp imagery was kept. Children's Day also replaced a counterpart traditional holiday for girls called "Girls' Day," where girls would display family heirloom dolls and hold parties for their friends.
How are the details of their design significant?
Koinobori typically come in a set of many colors, each of which may symbolize a particular family member, depending on the region. Often the black carp represents the father of the family, the red carp the mother, and the other colors each represent the individual children. Traditionally they are hung on a pole topped with arrow-spoked wheels called a yaguruma.
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