Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Boy's Day

Aloha
& Welcome to
Boy's Day
in
Hawaii


Click on the carp (and other photos :)
"Children make you want to start life over."
Muhammad Ali





"Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it."
Not Your Average Dictionary



These little Japanese tourist boys at Waikiki's Army Museum are looking at a tank
that their great grandfather might have used in WWII.




"Children enjoy the present
because they have neither a past
nor a future."


Jean De La Bruyere

Aloha & Welcome to May fifth,

Tango-no-sekku, the Japanese Boy's Day Festival

that is also celebrated here in Hawaii.

The 5th day of the 5th month has been the day to celebrate boys for centuries. Tango-no-sekku means: "First Day of the Horse" because the strength, stamina, and courage of horses symbolize masculine qualities that boys should emulate.

Another animal associated with boy's day is the carp.
This powerful and determined fish is also regarded as a fitting example for boys. Dr. Freud might point out that the carp itself, long, cylindrical, and bold is a fitting representation of the most fundamental badge of manhood.

Girl's Day is celebrated with the display of dolls.
Boy's day, too, has it's own characteristic dolls: armored samurai warriors; nonetheless, it is the colorful carp banners (koi-nobori) one for every boy in the family, flown from bamboo poles outside the home, that are the overriding visual characteristic of the holiday. The largest carp honors the oldest son, the smallest, the youngest.

Today, in Japan, May fifth is celebrated as Children's Day.

But here in Hawaii we keep many old customs that the plantation workers brought with them. They intended to maintain their ethnic identities, but the magic of Hawaii has painted most every imported custom with our own unique qualities.

So let's celebrate boys, carp, AND girls, as we continue to appreciate everything that makes our island home

unique.

A L O H A! Cloudia




33 comments:

the walking man said...

You are fortunate to live in a place that celebrates it's children the way they should be celebrated.

Dave King said...

Some lovely pictures - super quote from Bryere

Hilary said...

You always have the most interesting posts. I love the definition - "a noise with dirt on it." That's just perfect. Wonderful photos as always. :)

Akelamalu said...

I love the multicoloured tank!

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Salude!
<><

Charles Gramlich said...

Sounds lovely. It would be cool if all tanks were painted that way. but maybe with smiley faces added.

Teresa said...

Love the definition of boy: a noise with dirt on it :) Hooray for boys day! It sounds fun.

Kay said...

Gosh! I totally forgot that it was Boy's Day today. With a granddaughter, I tend to only notice March 3rd, Girl's Day.
Have a happy day!

sealaura said...

never heard of this, how sweet. here is Cali everybody is all about cinco de mayo. Mostly a food and drinking thing, but still fun. thanks for sharing.

Full-On-Forward said...

Love the plant--Life in a crack!

Also the Carp here are ferocious in their mating ritual--virtually tearing the water up- as they roll and fight to attract a mate!

Good stuff my Friend!!

John

Anonymous said...

An oasis of peace, so much needed tonight. Makes one understand why it won't be possible to celebrate such a day over here, as your island seems to be lightyears ahead in the understanding of life and its content.

daily athens

SandyCarlson said...

Cool day. What a great cause for celebration. We expect a lot of our men. We should celebrate them, of course. Better yet to celebrate all children, but it's cool to focus on one and then the other.

Love that definition of boy.

Fireblossom said...

I raised one of these odd male creatures. I'm awfully proud of him if ya want to know the truth.

gabrielle said...

"A noise with a dirt on it." We celebrate boys!

aloha

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Oh these are so beautiful and lovely shots !Kids are having a Great time of learning !!Aloha !!

bichonpawz said...

It really would be cool if all tanks were painted up like that! Love the colors!! And I always enjoy your quotes!!

BLOGitse said...

I have a girl's day on my blog...
We need hope!
Aloha from Casa!

BLOGitse

Friko said...

I am glad that girls get a look-in to.
Aloha, Cloudia

Nancy said...

And unique it is. Aloha.

DeniseinVA said...

I love this post. I love all your posts, thanks Cloudia. How lovely to celebrate a boy's day in Hawaii.

Rosaria Williams said...

A lovely celebration!

claude said...

Happy Boy's day to all the boys !

Marguerite said...

What a nice celebration! And I love that boy definition. Aloha, cher!

Dianne said...

I love the quote from Ali and the 'noise with dirt on it"

and that sweet little green leaf

Anonymous said...

SWEET BLOG
BH

wenn said...

interesting! Happy Mother's Day!

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Hi !Aloha from India !!I really enjoyed this post and came back to see your new post !!Will come back !!

JTG (Misalyn) said...

Interesting post. I love the pictures and the quotes, as always.

I have no idea the Boy's Day and Girl's Day until I read your post. Thanks for sharing. I googled it to read further about it.

Happy Mother's Day Cloudia. Have a great weekend.

Cloudia said...

Thank you so much for delighting me with your comments!

Lisa said...

There is Mother's Day and there is boys day. Love it.

ruma said...

Hello.
It is a beautiful carp streamer.
Thank you for the introduction.

Cloudia said...

Thanks!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

http://itistimetothinkformyself.blogspot.com/2010/05/jingles-may-follower-award-week-2.html

awards to choose,
Happy Tuesday!
I appreciate your friendship!