1. Children’s Day
Japan
By Denise Jackson

2. May 5 is Children’s Day, when families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of children.
Families with boys fly huge carp-shaped streamers outside the house, diminishing in size as one goes from the older to younger boys.

3. The carp was chosen because it symbolizes strength and success.
According to Chinese legend, a carp swam upstream to become a dragon.

4. In recent years, as more people moved into apartments and smaller houses, the carp streamers have also gotten smaller, and now there are miniature versions that decorate the indoors.