READING

November 8, 2014

Boys Day: A Japanese Festival

People in every country love their children.
They have
celebrations during their birthdays or name days. In Japan, there
are national festivals to celebrate their children at the same time.
The festivals are Girls Day and Boys Day. Today, we are going to
talk about Boys Day.

Boys Day: A Japanese Festival (contd)

On May 5, the Japanese celebrate Boy's Day and they call it Children's Day.
People fly banners on their house. The banners are made of paper or cloth,
and they look like fish. When the wind blows, the fish-like banners filled with
air seem to be swimming. Each family puts up one fish banner for each boy.
The fish banner of the oldest boy is the largest and it is on the top. The
youngest boy has the smallest fish at the bottom. These banners represent a
type of fish called the carp. The carp is a strong and brave fish. It swims up
the river against great difficulties and doesn't give up. People hope the boys
will grow to be strong and brave like the carp.

Girls Day: A Japanese Festival

People in every country love their children. They have celebrations
during their birthdays or name days. In Japan, there are national
festivals to celebrate their children at the same time. These
festivals are called Girls Day and Boys Day. Today, we are going to
talk about Girls Day.

Girls Day: A Japanese Festival

Girls Day is also called the Doll Festival. The Japanese celebrate
it on March 3 (the third of the month). On this day, the girls
parents prepare a table in the best room of their house. They put
a red cloth on the table then they put steps on top of the red
cloth. They arrange a set of fifteen dolls on the steps. Each doll
has its own place on the step. The dolls represent the royal family
in ancient Japan --- emperors, empresses, ministers, and famous
musicians. The emperor and empress are on the top step.

VOCABULARY

Vocabulary Lesson
CELEBRATION
It is a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
Related Words:
Festival, Holiday
Vocabulary - Celebration

BANNER
a long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or design, hung in a public place or carried in a
demonstration or procession.
Related Words:
Flag
Vocabulary - Banner

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Questions