In order to celebrate the first festival from the bottom of my heart, I would like to know the correct origin of what this day means. Also, make sure you know exactly what you should do to celebrate. Here, we explain why the boy's first festival is May 5th and its origin. We will also show you how to celebrate.

First of all, seasonal festivals are seasonal milestones based on the culture that was introduced from China. It is also called "Gosekku" because it is visited five times in a year. Of these, March 3rd is for girls and May 5th is for boys.

So why is May 5th the boy's festival? There are various theories, but I will introduce one of them here. In ancient China, where seasonal festival culture originated, May was a severe month with epidemics. The 5th of May was considered to be a very bad day, as it was an unlucky month with two 5s. Therefore, it is believed that May 5th was the beginning of the May Festival, when people exorcised evil spirits and wished for the health of their families.

The origin of the name “Tango no Sekku” in Japan dates back to the Edo period. “End” in “Dango” means “beginning,” and it is the first horse day in May. It is called Tango no Sekku (Boy's Festival) because the letter 'Uma' is pronounced 'Go'.

May is also the season for the iris plant. During the Boy's Festival, seasonal irises, which give off a strong scent, were used in baths and drinks. For this reason, it was also called the "Iris Festival". This "Shobu no Sekku" came to be called "Naobu no Sekku". Shobu means to respect martial arts. In this way, the interpretation spread to Tango no Sekku = Iris Festival = Shobu no Sekku, and it came to be a boy's festival.

The current festival is a culture that was introduced from China and has developed independently in Japan. If you understand the origin, you can understand that the timing of the first festival is different for men and women.

On the boy's festival, the following celebrations are held. Let's take a look at how to celebrate each one, along with their meanings and origins.

decorate carp streamers

Carp streamers swimming in the sky are also a feature of May. The origin of decorating carp streamers is also in China. In China, there is a legend of Toryumon, in which a carp climbs a waterfall, ascends to the heavens, and becomes a dragon.

Even today, the gate that leads to career advancement and success is called Toryumon. The koi symbolizes career advancement and success, while the koi nobori is said to represent the wish for a boy to grow up healthy and eventually succeed.

According to another theory, carp can live in muddy mud instead of clear water, so it is said that it also means that they want it to have a strong vitality.

Considering the current housing situation, more and more families are taking pictures of their children with small tabletop carp streamers or carp streamers on the walls of their rooms.

decorate May dolls

May dolls are dolls such as warriors wearing armor and helmets. The wish is to have the strong-looking warrior protect the boy from evil, and to grow up to be strong and splendid like them.

have a dinner party

Many families invite their friends and relatives to dinner with their babies in special costumes such as kimonos and hakama. Let's all rejoice in the growth so far and wish for healthy days in the future.

Kashiwamochi and chimaki are must-have dishes for boys' festivals. The kashiwa tree does not lose its old leaves until new shoots appear, so Kashiwamochi is made with the hope that generations will continue to prosper. The custom of eating chimaki came from China as a way to ward off evil spirits. In the past, it seems that chimaki was wrapped in irises, which is the origin of the Tango no Sekku.

And don't forget to take pictures. Please take a commemorative photo in a special costume for the baby and a slightly fashionable outfit that does not get in the way of taking care of the adult.

I think there are many parents who want to make their first festival memorable. Since it's a special day, it's important to prepare everything so that your child will be happy. Tango no Sekku is a boy's celebration unique to Japan, but what kind of costume would be appropriate? Here, we will introduce various types of costumes, including traditional costumes for the first festival.

In the past, it seems that boys were dressed in Jinbaori during Boys' Day. Jinbaori is a garment worn by military commanders on top of their armor, and comes in the form of cloaks and kimonos. At first, it was used for a practical purpose to protect against rain and wind, but eventually it became a status like a military commander.

The jinbaori worn on the boy's festival was a costume with the wish that he would grow up to be a strong and courageous child like a military commander. It's cool, and of course you can wear a jinbaori, but you don't have to force yourself to choose it because it's a tradition.

You may also wear the kimono or celebration clothes that you made when visiting the shrine. It would be a pity if the kimono you made was only used once, so it would be nice to wear it again at the first festival. Recognize that this is not a rule and some people do.

I used to wear baby clothes and jinbaori for shrine visits, but now the answer is that there are no rules for boys' festival costumes.

There are no rules for who prepares the costumes. This is also an old custom, but it seems that there was a time when celebratory items such as May dolls were supposed to be given from the mother's parents' house. This too has faded in recent years, and it doesn't matter who buys it. Of course, so are the costumes. Rather, it would be more fun to choose something that papa mama is satisfied with.

However, your area and family may have their own customs. It's a good idea to ask your grandfather's or grandmother's generation if they have any special traditions. To the last, the leading role of the first festival is the baby and his papa mama. Traditions can be thought of as being built through rituals with wishes, so it's nice to follow them, but please give priority to whether you can agree with your parents.

Here are some suggestions for what to wear on the day. First of all, as for adult clothes, there is no problem with formal clothes such as suits and dresses, or casual clothes for going out. You don't have to worry about dressing up. I have to take care of my baby, so clothes that are easy to move in are a must.

You may want to dress up with your baby, but we recommend clothes that will move unexpectedly with care and that you don't mind getting dirty from regurgitation. It is recommended to be modest not only in clothes, but also in accessories. It may be pulled by the baby.

What kind of baby clothes are there? Here are some recommended outfits for boys' first festival.

battle coat

As mentioned earlier, it seems that they used to wear Jinbaori as a tradition. Even today, Jinbaori is a costume used for boys' festivals. You can combine it with another kimono.

Kintaro Cosplay

Kintaro is also popular as a May doll. It is based on the story of a boy named Kintaro who lives in Mt. Ashikaga and actively plays sumo wrestling with mountain animals. It is said that Kintaro, who was a kind-hearted and strong boy, grew up to be a strong and tough man, and served the samurai. Kintaro has long been a symbol of a strong and energetic boy. For this reason, Kintaro's apron is popular not only for May dolls but also for the clothes on the day of Boys' Festival.

hakama

Tango no Sekku is a traditional Japanese event that has been held since ancient times. Western clothes such as suit-style rompers are also wonderful, but Western clothes can be worn on other occasions, so please consider wearing kimono for such a Japanese-style event. Kimono and hakama are the perfect kimono for boys' first festival. Enjoy the moment when your baby looks like a strong boy.

Kimono and hakama seem to be difficult to put on, and some parents may be worried about the material touching their skin. Tsukihana's kimono is made of high-quality materials, but it has been carefully thought out to make it easy for babies to put on and take off, such as easy to handle feet and hook-and-loop fasteners on the waist. Please check out tsukihana's kimono for a full-fledged separate kimono and hakama debut.

The boy's first festival is a lively and fun event, in which May dolls and carp streamers are given, and family and friends are invited to have a meal while praying for the growth of the baby. For adults, we recommend wearing clothes that are easy to move around in, and for babies, we recommend a Japanese kimono and hakama.

tsukihana has high quality hakama for boys. Please leave the kimono for the first festival to our shop.