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 Happy Tango-no-Sekku!

 Author:  Topic:  Posted:
May 05, 2002
 Comments:
On the fifth day of May, Japan celebrates Tango-no-Sekku, or "Boys' Festival." This charming holiday is dedicated to the strong, supple, athletic young boys of Japan, and their masculine warrior spirit.

The holiday is celebrated with the display of Musha, or "warrior" dolls indoors. Outside, Koi-noburi, colorful paper kite-balloons in the shape of carp, are flown gaily throughout the island nation.

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These totems, tumescent and wriggling in the blowing wind, can be seen one atop another all over Japan, as each family erects a long pole and decorates it with one Koi-noburi for each tender young boy in the house, with the largest representing the oldest boy at the top, and smaller ones for the youngsters beneath. The carp represents virtues that young boys everywhere would do well to cultivate: power, strength, and perseverence.

The Festival is replete with treats, from the sweet kashiwa-mochi to the more substantial chimaki to the thoroughly adult Shobu-Sake, Sake spiced up with the exciting sword-shaped Shobu leaf.

Though the center of this celebration of boyhood is of course in Japan, the Festival has been spreading beyond the shores of that island, and you may even encounter Americans celebrating this holiday in their own way tonight. So if you chance upon people celebrating with drink, gay banners, and bits of foreign language in your local tavern tonight, raise your glass, and join them with a toast to young Boys!


Are you ... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Narcissus on Sun May 5th, 2002 at 12:35:49 PM PST
A catholic priest by any chance?




--------------------------------
Ok, who picked the flower???

 
I wouldn't have interpreted this as a threat... (4.00 / 8) (#3)
by elenchos on Sun May 5th, 2002 at 04:47:52 PM PST
...prior to Sept. 11. But now, you're either for us or against us. So when I see this unfamiliar language (Toku No What?) and strange viewpoint combined with numerous things which can only be understood as NOT AMERICAN, I have to think of the children (the children of America I mean) and say, "Just what the hell is Japan playing at here? What makes them think they can get away with this? Do they think we're not watching out?"

Sure, before we were asleep and didn't pay much attention to what all these countries (almost all of which are not America) are up to, but we're on to them now.

So all I can say is that if Japan doesn't start acting NORMAL then the will have only themselves to blame, if you get my drift.

That goes double for Canada, you freak bastards. We see every damn thing you do up there in the frozen north and you sure as HELL are not going to get away with one bit of it. Just you wait...


I do, I do, I do
--Bikini Kill


 
on the first of may... (5.00 / 2) (#4)
by venalcolony on Sun May 5th, 2002 at 05:02:19 PM PST
... ruling classes around the world are reminded of their vulnerability and of the power of the oppressed classes. On the first of may, apologists for the bosses, the bankers, the generals and the cnn anchors stay home and write diversionary articles about the 5th of may, a "day" devoid of righteousness or infamy.

I am ashamed to be here and shall gouge out these offensive eyes of mine for having fooled me into reading this propaganda device you call an article.

"As I write these lines, the proletariat of Europe and America is holding a review of its forces; it is mobilized for the first time as one army, under one flag, and fighting for one immediate aim: stuff." -- Frederick Engels

            .--.--.--.--.
           /  /  /  /   |\
          /  /  /  /   /  \
         |            |>  /
         |            |  /
         |              /
         |             /
         | __        .'
        /          .'
       /          /
      /          /
     /           '
    /           /
   /           /
  /           /
 '           /
            /



---
The difference between trolling and life is life doesnt have to make sense.

 
*YAWN* (none / 0) (#5)
by because it isnt on Sun May 5th, 2002 at 06:21:33 PM PST
Another dull, traditional Japanese festival. The Boys' Festival wouldn't even get me out of the burusera shop. Now, the Kanamara festival, that's something worth seeing. Sadly, it's celebrated at the end of March, so you've missed it for this year, but it doesn't matter - you can hug a mikoshi for good luck at any time!
adequacy.org -- because it isn't

 
Uhm... (none / 0) (#6)
by Anonymous Reader on Sun May 5th, 2002 at 09:48:32 PM PST
What exactly is the point of this article? I doubt anybody here cares about some Japanese festivity.


Here's why, xenophobe. (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by Ernest Bludger on Sun May 5th, 2002 at 10:22:22 PM PST
Some Grown-Up readers of Adequacy are in fact interested in cultural festivals that take place beyond their own shores (particularly non-USAian non-Anonymous-Readers, I'll bet).

An understanding of what, why and how others celebrate may lead to a better understanding of one's own culture and festivals. Similarities and differences can be noted and pondered. You may even learn something...


 
Go back to whining liberalistville, please (none / 0) (#8)
by Adam Rightmann on Mon May 6th, 2002 at 05:22:38 AM PST
aka, <A href="http://slashdot.org">Kuro5hin</a>, where you can have endless navel gazing debates on the offensiveness of USian and UKian. As the history of the true Church has shown, knowing about foreign cultures is fascinating and worthwhile, you never know when you may need some cultural history to go out and save some Pagans.


A. Rightmann

 
Don't mind the harsh comments... (none / 0) (#9)
by DePumpo on Mon May 6th, 2002 at 07:44:52 AM PST
... from these people. They are a little guarded about comments like yours. These posts are made to make people think and feel. Take a close look at this site and I think you will understand it's true nature. The truth is not clear - think before you write. Make your own thoughts clear and you will find the truth.

Get the idea yet?


 
Deletion Notice (none / 0) (#12)
by RobotSlave on Mon May 6th, 2002 at 01:52:54 PM PST
Two comments by user "derek3000," entitled "For Old Times sake" and "I'm not blinking," have been deleted for violation of copyright belonging to user RobotSlave.

It should be noted that user "derek3000," in attempting humor through gross copyright violation, has not only failed to be very funny, but has also failed to be at all original. This first attempt at this sort of "humor" was made by user "because it isnt," and it wasn't particularly funny then, either.

User "derek3000," however, did earn five points from user "nathan," presumably for referencing Al Green and penning a bit of a mash note to user "RobotSlave" involving long hair and bicycle shorts.


© 2002, RobotSlave. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

five points (none / 0) (#15)
by nathan on Mon May 6th, 2002 at 08:55:36 PM PST
Were for the brilliant work of postmodern art.

Nathan
--
Li'l Sis: Yo, that's a real grey area. Even by my lax standards.

I'm like Harry Potter, (none / 0) (#17)
by derek3000 on Tue May 7th, 2002 at 07:30:15 AM PST
because I sell mad copies and children think I'm magical.


----------------
"Feel me when I bring it!" --Gay Jamie

 
Hey 'Slave, (none / 0) (#19)
by derek3000 on Tue May 7th, 2002 at 07:39:31 AM PST
I heard that they're releasing a Yakoff Smirnoff compilation DVD. Just thought you might be interested.

Side note: chicks dig DVD movies, and cars that shift themselves.


----------------
"Feel me when I bring it!" --Gay Jamie

 
Status change (none / 0) (#16)
by Anonymous Reader on Tue May 7th, 2002 at 04:34:23 AM PST
There is a requirement at Adequate.com that once awarded the title of editor, one's posts must become banal and reaching.

The next requirement is that readers stop reading them.


 
Festival of virility? (none / 0) (#18)
by chloedancer on Tue May 7th, 2002 at 07:31:08 AM PST
I thought that "Boy's Day" is now considered as a celebration of all children? The carp windsocks are said to represent strength (because carp are known for swimming upstream for great distances) and success in life; the symbolism is quite obvious, no?

Hinamatsuri is commonly known as "Girl's Day" (March 3), a time to pray for the health and well-being of young girls. Displays of hinaningyo (ceremonial dolls) have become little more than yet another means of displaying wealth, but the Chinese origins of this tradition are intriguing... It was believed that the sins of the body could be transferred to a doll that is then set on a river to drift away. As the dolls have become more elaborate and expensive, the practice of setting them adrift for purposes of purifying one's self has waned.

Me, I'll celebrate when Bon Odori rolls around again. When compared to Seafair, it's a welcomed alternative.


 

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