How to enjoy Children's Day's Tango Festival and events: What is the essence of May dolls?

Check out the list of the latest compact and stylish May dolls

How to enjoy Children's Day (Tango no Sekku) and events What is the essence of May dolls?

What is a May Doll? |

The essence of Children's Day and how to enjoy it

What is a May doll?

For the health and growth of boys on Children's Day

It is a traditional doll that is displayed with wishes.


Helmets and armor are said to protect people from illness and disaster.

It is said to ward off evil spirits.

Originally it was a custom of the samurai class,

It spread to the common people during the Edo period,

Now it has been passed down as an event where parents pass on their feelings to their children .

Recently, it has become a familiar sight during Golden Week.

More and more homes are enjoying them as stylish interior decorations .


The compact and modern design

It blends naturally into the living room,

Decorating is a seasonal joy for the home.

May dolls are not just decorations


It's the "time to make a wish."



Every year, the moment when we gather together as a family to watch,

It will remain in the child's memory.

How to read May Doll |

May doll? May doll?

Correct pronunciation and meaning

Do you know how to read the word "May doll"?


The most common way to read it is "Gogatsuningyo" ,

In fact, some people read it as "Satsuki Ningyo."

This "Satsuki" is the name of May in the lunar calendar,

It is an ancient Japanese seasonal word that also appears in waka and haiku .



In other words, the reading of "Satsukiningyo" is as follows:

It has a more traditional and sophisticated sound.

On the other hand, in modern times, the reading "Gogatsuningyo" has become established,

In catalogs, official documents, sales pages, etc.

Most of the time, this notation is standardized.

So, which one is correct?


In fact, neither is wrong, both are correct .

They are used differently depending on the region and age,

Older people tend to call it "Satsuki doll" affectionately.

"How do you read this kanji?"

From that conversation,

You can also come into contact with Japanese language and traditions naturally.

It's a rich time that can only be experienced on Children's Day.

How to read May dolls


It is filled with the depth of Japanese culture and the spirit that has been passed down through the generations.

View by type: Helmet, Armor, and Child General Decorations |

The essence and appeal of decoration

May dolls include:

There are three main types: "Kabuto decorations," "Yoroi decorations," and "Child General decorations."


Each one has a meaning,

They are chosen to suit the family's wishes and the space in which they are to be decorated.

● Kabuto ornaments are the most popular.

They are displayed with the hope that they will protect their children from harm.


It is compact and has a great interior design quality, making it a popular gift for the first Doll Festival.

- Armor decorations are equipment that protect the whole body, creating a more heroic atmosphere.


It contains the parents' wish that their child will grow up strong and healthy.

The child general ornament features a gentle expression with a face,


This is a warm doll that seems to represent "my child himself."

What all May dolls have in common is that


The fundamental desire of parents to "protect."


The time to decorate is

It becomes a spring ritual that strengthens family bonds.

See a list of fashionable May dolls that have been popular in recent years

History of Boys' Festival |

Differences between Children's Day events in the past and today

The Boys' Festival was originally

This event began among aristocrats and samurai during the Heian and Kamakura periods.



To ward off evil spirits

Taking a bath in iris bath and decorating with medicinal herbs ,

They prayed for the boy's good health.

Eventually, times changed,

During the Edo period , decorations that resembled helmets and armor began to appear.



In samurai homes, people would pray to their armor to protect them in battle.

I want to raise my child to be strong and brave.

You will be able to make wishes.

Furthermore, after the Meiji period, it spread to the common people,

In 1948

It was designated as a national holiday, known as "Children's Day."



The meaning has changed slightly over time,


The essence of "a day to pray for the healthy growth of children" is

It's still the same today.

Nowadays, people decorate their homes with compact and stylish May dolls ,


It has also become a well-established Golden Week event to spend with family.

Then and now--

The Boys' Festival is

It is a day that embodies the parents' hopes for their child's future .

What are the five seasonal festivals?

A day when the roots of culture are nurtured, where parents care for their children

"Children's Day (Tango no Sekku)" is

One of the five seasonal festivals , a traditional Japanese event.



It was officially established by the shogunate during the Edo period.


At the turning point of each season

It has been passed down as a day to "celebrate life and send wishes."

The five most representative seasonal festivals are as follows:

• Jinjitsu (Jinjitsu) (January 7th): Eating rice porridge with seven herbs to pray for good health
  
  
• Jōshi (March 3rd): Hina dolls are used to pray for the healthy growth of girls.
  
  
• Tango (May 5th): Praying for the healthy growth of boys with May dolls
  
  
• Tanabata (July 7th): Write your wishes on a strip of paper and entrust it to the stars
  
  
• Double Ninth Day (September 9th): Celebrating longevity and health with chrysanthemums

These verses have in common

The "roots of culture" where parents care for their children is still alive and well.

More than the event itself,

Knowing the wishes and meanings behind it


This will be the first step in conveying the "spirit of Japan" to children.

And this root,

On the same day every year, families can feel the seasons and talk about them together.


Little by little, but surely,


From parents to children, from children to grandchildren

The Japanese temperament is passed down .

The five seasonal festivals established by the Edo Shogunate |

Tokugawa Ieyasu, the peacemaker, and the beginning of Japanese celebrations

The era has changed from war to peace.

It changes over time.



Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Edo Shogunate,


Finally, people's lives

From "protecting lives" to "enjoying life"

It moved away.

Among them, the following was born:

The five seasonal festivals

It is a custom to celebrate the turning point of the season .



This adds another turning point to the four seasons,


The healthy growth of children,

As a culture of praying for the health of family members

It has become established.

Originally, the five seasonal festivals were ceremonies held at the Imperial Court.


The Edo Shogunate established it as an official annual event ,


This culture began to take root in the lives of ordinary people.

The war is over and we are living in a time of peace,

The spirit of "wishing" and "celebrating" has returned to people.



Decorating with helmets and May dolls for the Boys' Festival is also popular.


This is one of the cultures that embodies the prayers of parents .

Eventually, during the Meiji period,


The calendar changed to the "new calendar (solar calendar)"


Currently, there is a one-month difference in the seasonal feeling of the five seasonal festivals .

For example, cherry blossoms and mandarin oranges are often added to Hina dolls.


They actually bloom in early April, so in areas that celebrate according to the lunar calendar,

You can feel the harmony with the seasons.

Because it was an "event in harmony with nature,"


The five seasonal festivals remain deeply in people's hearts,

It may still be treasured by generations to come.

Feeling the five seasonal festivals |

Jinjitsu (January 7th) and the "feelings contained in the seven herbs"

The first festival of the new year is

January 7th is Jinjitsu (People's Day) .



After a lively New Year's holiday,

Today I stopped for a little while,

We eat rice porridge with seven herbs in hopes of good health for the year .

It's such a gentle milestone day.

This event, which is called "The Day to Cherish People,"

People from the past

It is imbued with gratitude for human life and the desire to care for the body .

For your stomach and intestines after enjoying New Year's dishes and other delicacies,


A mild rice porridge with seven herbs is the perfect match.


Wishing for the health of my family,

The scent of grass signals the arrival of spring.


That time is here.

What are the Seven Herbs of Spring?

• Japanese parsley: a fragrant and appetizing wild vegetable
  
  
• Shepherd 's purse: A wild plant that has been familiar since ancient times.
  
  
• Gogyo: Motherwort. Also used as a medicinal herb that is gentle on the throat.
  
  
• Chickweed: Chickweed. It was also used as a toothpaste.
  
  
• Hotoke no za: The current "Tabirako." The leaves are soft and easy to eat.
  
  
• Suzuna: Turnip. The leaves are also rich in nutrients.
  
  
• Suzushiro: Daikon radish. A food that aids digestion.

While chanting "Seri, shepherd's purse, gogyo..."

Searching for it together at the supermarket,

Talking about meaning with my grandparents

It will be a wonderful memory to create.

Nanakusa-gayu brings a sense of spring .

This is a seasonal message from parents to their children.

Feeling the five seasonal festivals |

Jōshi (March 3rd) and "Girls' Day to Welcome Spring"

The season when peach blossoms bloom,

March 3rd is the "Joshi Festival"


It is Hinamatsuri , a day to pray for the healthy growth of girls.

Originally, this day was a time before spring arrived.

It is considered a day to cleanse oneself of impurities ,

During the Heian period, impurities were transferred to paper dolls,

It is said that they were purified by throwing them into the river.

Eventually, time passed,

The form of the dolls changed to Hina dolls, which are displayed in hopes of bringing happiness to children .

Nowadays, it is popular as a spectacular event.

Cherry blossom and tangerine decorations are gently placed next to the Hina dolls.

They also contain wishes for "harvest" and "longevity."

It seems to convey the warm feelings of the family.

Decorate Hina dolls with your children,

While eating Hina Arare, we talked about memories.

It is a gift from parent to child that conveys the season.

That may be the true meaning of Joshi no Sekku.

View all modern and stylish Hina dolls

Feeling the five seasonal festivals |

Boys' Day (May 5th) and the Iris Festival, a time for praying for victory

May 5th is Children's Day .


In the old days, people would decorate their eaves with irises and take iris baths.

It was a day to ward off evil spirits and pray for good health.

This festival is strongly influenced by samurai culture,

Since "shobu" means "competition,"

It became popular as a festival for boys.

In modern times, people decorate May dolls that resemble helmets and armor,

It is a popular day to pray for the healthy growth of sons .

Inside the house there is a brave helmet,

Carp streamers swim merrily in the sky.


This scene is a special day for the children.

It will be engraved in your heart.

Every time this day comes,

"I want them to grow up strong and resilient"

This parental wish is quietly passed down.


That's the festival.

This was enacted in July 1948 (Showa 23) in the "Law Concerning National Holidays."

It was designated as a national holiday called "Children's Day,"

Boys' Day = Children's Day = May Dolls ,

Recognition was successful.

Feeling the five seasonal festivals |

Tanabata (July 7th) and the summer night of "entrusting wishes to the stars"

July 7th is Tanabata.


The night when Orihime and Hikoboshi, separated by the Milky Way, can meet only once a year...

It is a festival filled with such romance.

Since ancient times, there has been a custom of writing wishes on strips of paper and hanging them on bamboo .

Children can achieve their dreams and the person they want to be.

It's also an important opportunity to put it into words.

The entrance of summer when the heat increases,

On this night, the cool night breeze and the sound of bamboo overlap,

Parents and children can connect just by looking up at the sky .

It has such a mysterious power.

"What wish did you write down?"

"I hope it reaches the stars"


From just one piece of paper,

This is a festival that deepens family conversations .

Feeling the five seasonal festivals |

Double Ninth (September 9th) and "A wish for longevity and gratitude in chrysanthemums"

September 9th is Choyo no Sekku.


Although it is a little less well known among the five seasonal festivals,

The "yang" number "9" overlaps,

It is considered to be the most auspicious turning point .

This day is also known as the "Chrysanthemum Festival."

With wishes for the chrysanthemum flower, a symbol of eternal youth and longevity,

There was a custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine and decorating with flowers to ward off evil spirits .

At this time when autumn is in the air,

With gratitude for the blessings of nature and life,

It would also be nice to spend the day praying for the health and longevity of your family .

The dining table and room are filled with the scent of chrysanthemums.

There's something dignified about it, and it even calms the mind...

It is such a quiet "prayer festival."

May dolls are gifts |

Aspirations passed down from grandparents to grandchildren

May dolls are not just decorations for the festival.


It was because the grandparents said, "I hope this child grows up healthy."

It is an irreplaceable "form of wish" given with great love .

It is often given by maternal grandparents,


As a custom to entrust feelings to "married daughter and her children" ,


It still lives quietly in Japanese homes today.

The time comes when the family gathers together to decorate the May dolls they received.

The innocent smile of a child,

The gentle gaze of the grandparents watching it.


There, bonds are formed that transcend generations.

"thank you"

"You've grown so much."


These words and the spirit are passed down every year.


May dolls are gifts that connect family history .

Modern ways to celebrate Children's Day |

Family memories

In addition to traditional customs,


Today, Children's Day has expanded to become a day to create family memories .

They gather around kashiwamochi (oak leaf rice cakes) and chimaki (rice dumplings), and decorate carp streamers together.



There,

Parents and children can draw pictures together,

Taking photos,


The modern trend is to add "special events just for the family."

It doesn't have to be something big.

"Today was fun"

Just having a night when my child sleeps smiling,


It will be an invaluable day for parents as well .

Memories don't have to be extravagant.


The time spent sharing your heart will be a gift that will last into the future .

Children's Day event around the dining table |

Kashiwamochi, Chimaki, and Koinobori sushi

On the Children's Day dinner table,

Dishes that reflect the season and your wishes are lined up.


Kashiwamochi wrapped in oak leaves, fragrant chimaki,


Colorful carp streamer sushi.

Why is this wrapped in leaves?

"It's shaped like a fish!"


Just having that conversation,

Children's curiosity will grow and their minds will develop.

Food is a form of celebration.

But it's not just about eating,


It becomes a memory by "making, choosing and having fun together."

We laughed and said it was delicious,

It gently strengthens the bonds of family.


That is the true meaning of Children's Day feast.

Enjoying time at home |

Deepen bonds through movies, games, and hobbies

Even if you don't go outside,

Inside the house is a wonderful "Children's Day field."



Watching movies with the whole family

Laughing out loud at board games,


That alone will make it a memorable event.

The games that children are crazy about

Mom and Dad try it out seriously.


I draw pictures and make origami helmets.



A "common game" that's a little different from usual,

It will deepen your bond.

I think what's important is the quality of time .

We laugh together, we're surprised together, and we make memories together.


That is the magic of Children's Day.

Children's Day in Nature |

Golden Week outing spots

The season when the spring breeze is pleasant,

Why not head out into nature on Children's Day?


Picnics, hiking, zoos, and parks with seasonal flowers are just some of the things you can do.


There are plenty of experiences to delight the senses.

Eating lunch under the blue sky,

Running around on the grass.


The laughter of children melts into the wind,


You will surely encounter moments when you think, "Ah, this time is a treasure."

The travel time is also full of conversation and discoveries.


Find seasonal flowers and insects,

We talk about our mom and dad's childhoods.


Even casual outings will remain in our hearts as family memories forever.


That is Children's Day in Nature.

Summary |


May Dolls and Children's Day Foster Family Bonds

Children's Day is

It's not just an "event"

It is an important day when parents can express their feelings for their children.

You can also decorate May dolls.

We can all gather around a meal,

Laughing together in nature,

It's all in the child's mind

It will be engraved as a memory of being loved as you grew up.

In line with modern life,

Even if the style changes a little,

What remains unchanged is the "spirit of hope" and "family ties."


Perhaps that is the true essence of Children's Day.

This day comes around every year,


I hope that this year and next year will be filled with smiles for both parents and children.

Other frequently asked questions (Q&A)