"Iris" for "Boys' Day"

Irises at the market.

The Fifth of May is "Boys' Day" in Japan.  We have many traditions on this day.

I don't know how it started but I do have many childhood memories on that day.

According to Wikipedia:

The day was originally called Tango no Sekku, and was celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th moon in the lunar calendar or Chinese calendar. After Japan's switch to the Gregorian calendar, the date was moved to May 5.  It was originally for boys but has since been changed to include both boys and girls.

Sekku means a season's festival (there are five sekku per year). Tango no Sekku marks the beginning of summer or the rainy season. Tan means "edge" or "first" and go means "noon".

Although it is not known precisely when this day started to be celebrated, it was probably during the reign of the Empress Suiko (593–628 A.D.). InJapan, Tango no Sekku was assigned to the fifth day of the fifth month after the Nara period.

Until recently, Tango no Sekku was known as Boys' Day (also known as Feast of Banners) while Girls' Day (Hinamatsuri) was celebrated on March 3. In 1948, the government decreed this day to be a national holiday to celebrate the happiness of all children and to express gratitude toward mothers. It was renamed Kodomo no Hi.

Before this day, families raise the carp-shaped koinobori flags (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon, and the way the flags blow in the wind looks like they are swimming), one for each boy (or child), display a Kintarō doll usually riding on a large carp, and the traditional Japanese military helmet, kabuto. Kintarō and the kabuto are symbols of a strong and healthy boy.

Kintarō is the childhood name of Sakata no Kintoki who was a hero in the Heian period, a subordinate samurai of Minamoto no Raikou, having been famous for his strength when he was a child. It is said that Kintarō rode a bear, instead of a horse, and played with animals in the mountains when he was a young boy.

Mochi rice cakes wrapped in kashiwa (oak) leaves—kashiwa-mochi (just like regular mochi, but is also filled with red beans jam) and chimaki (a kind of "sweet rice paste", wrapped in an iris or bamboo leaf)—are traditionally served on this day.

One thing they forgot tell us is that the IRIS is the flower to have for this day.
Did you know this flower named after the Goddess of the Rainbow ?

As I mentioned in my last entry, I could find them at Union Square Market.  
Even if my favorite spring flower is Lily of Valley, I had to have irises for today.

"Bearded Iris"

They are more like Irises we get in Japan.

Since I couldn't have "Koi Nobori" to display in Chelsea, 

I decided to show some photos I found for this entry.  

I could see many images of "Koi Nobori" from Japan,

 but I wanted to post traditional ones I remember from my childhood.  

Here they are...

From the top, 

"Fukinagashi" "Father Carp" "Mother Carp" and "Boy Carp"

This is exactly how I remember "Koi Nobori" in country side of Japan.

"Kabuto (Samurai's Helmet)"

Formal Display for "Boys' Day" celebration.

These are things Samurai needed for the War.

So, I guess Old Japanese though that Boys needed to have them for

 their protection and future success.

By the way, they are small replicas of "Yoroi (Armor) & Kabuto"

"Kashiwa Mochi"

This is what we served for "Boys' Day" as long as I can remember.

It is time for me to go to "Minamoto Kichyoan' at "Rockefeller Center"

This could be a picture of Boys' Day in 1920s ~ 1940s
Like a "Hina Dolls" for "Girls' Day" in March,
each family has their own set and style of "Samurai Decorations"
And they are pass on to the generations.