Tango No Sekku (May 5)

May 5th is the Tango no Sekku (端午の節句), Boys' Festival in Japan. It is the festival of hope that all of the boys in each household will grow up healthy and strong. Warrior figures (often the dolls of boys in suits of armor), helmets, and suits of armor are set up in the house during this festival. Iris leaves 菖蒲 【 しょうぶ】 (shobu) are placed under the eaves to fend off evil, and huge, colorful streamers shaped like koi (koinobori) are fastened to poles. Carp are thought to be very strong, as they swim up even big waterfalls. Special rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves (kashiwa mochi) and cooked rice wrapped in bamboo grass and tied with straw (chimaki) are eaten on this day.