May 5th in Japan is a national holiday - Children's Day! That's right - an actual national holiday dedicated to honoring and celebrating children! Years ago it was called Boys Day, but has since been changed to include girls as well (and girls still get their own special holiday as well!).
Children's Day became a national holiday in 1948, shortly after the end of World War II. Why do you think that timing might be significant?
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| Photo by Nancy Ericson |
Traditionally on Children's Day, carp-shaped flags are flown. When the flags are flying in the wind, they are supposed to resemble fish swimming upstream. There is an old Chinese legend that says a carp swimming upstream becomes a dragon. So these flags are symbols of courage.
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| Photo by Nancy Ericson |
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| Photo by Nancy Ericson |
If you could create a National Holiday in America to celebrate children, what symbol might you choose to use?
