Turkey

April 23 is National Sovereignty and Children's Day, which commemorates the Grand National Assembly's inauguration. It is a national holiday and much of the focus is on children. The founder of the modern Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Attaturk, loved children, so he gave this day to them, and wanted to teach them "peace at home and peace abroad."

My Turkish friends, Gul and Ayse, say it is a wonderful day that is very special for children from all over the world. "We try to reach into children's hearts" on that day, they say. Many children prepare for two months for this day to dance in a big field or to do gymnastics or karate demonstrations. There are parades of children, many in colorful costumes, and some kids march, saluting the people like soldiers. "They want everyone to have a good time. Kids from other countries also come to march, sing and dance, and we can watch this on TV," says Gul happily.

 Check www.discoverturkey.com..

Japan

Thanks to Eriko H and Saiko R for sharing their memories and photographs.

In Japan, spring is a time of special children's festivals. "March and May are in a nice season, a very comfortable weather," says Eriko.

HINA-MATSURI is celebrated annually throughout Japan on March 3 but is not a national holiday.

The Peach Blossom Festival, or Hina-Matsuri, on March 3, is also the day of the Girls' Doll Festival." On this day doll collections are brought out and elaborately displayed on a stepped display case covered in red felt. They often include an emperor, his empress, and their attendants and musicians, usually dressed in colorful court robes. Many dolls have porcelain heads and are family heirlooms, handed down from mother to daughter. The complete sets are very big and very expensive, so nowadays many families just have a smaller set. But every family with a daughter wants to have some kind of doll display. Another Japanese friend, Masami, explains, "Some young couples don't have enough money, like us, so my mother bought a set for my daughter."

Young girls, often wearing a traditional kimono, visit one another on this day to admire their dolls, have doll tea parties, and compliment each other on their peach blossom decorations in front of the dolls. The peach symbolizes happiness in marriage, representing the qualities of mildness and peacefulness all girls hope to acquire. "And we wish that our daughters grow up beautifully and gently, just like the beautiful princess dolls," Eriko told me.

Special food, such as hishimochi (a diamond-shaped rice cake) and shirozake (a drink made from rice malt and sake) are arranged in front of the tiered platform. The dolls are on display for about a week, and even in small Japanese apartments families with girls will try to have at least a small doll platform.

TANGO-NO-SEKKA is celebrated annually throughout Japan on May 5.

In earlier times, May 5 was celebrated as Boys' Day, Tango-no Sekka, also known as the Feast of the Flags and the Kite Festival. Today, however, the day is a festival for both boys and girls, even though people pray more for the success of boys. It is counted as a national holiday.

As Children's Day approaches, carp streamers (koinobori) flutter from houses all over Japan. Made of paper or cloth, these kites, or banners, are hung on poles outside the boys' homes. "Seeing the carp makes us feel happy. It looks like they are swimming in the sky," says Eriko. The black carp stands for the father, the red carp for the mother, the smaller blue carp for the son and the smallest pink carp for the daughter. Japanese people believe the carp is an important symbol. Swimming upstream each year against the current to lay its eggs, this fish represents perseverance, strength, and bravery, all qualities boys hope to achieve. In front of some homes there will be a carp for each son, the largest for the oldest. On this day many kids want to fly kites, especially carp-shaped kites.

Families with sons also display large warrior dolls dressed in traditional helmet and armor, so that their sons will also grow up strong and brave. These dolls are called musha (samurai) dolls. Other customs on this day are hanging irises from the eaves to ward off evil spirits, and eating chimaki (rice cakes wrapped in bamboo leaves) and kashiwa (rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves).

At school, the children learn special Children's Day songs, and "We sing the songs with our teachers, and eat cake" remembers Eriko. "It' s a happy day and a happy time." At the National Kasumigaoka Stadium in Tokyo there are the Kids' Olympics, with races for all ages, and even a torch relay.

See http://jin.jcic.or.jp/kidsweb/calendar/may/children.htm or www.csupomona.edu/~tassi/children.html, which has good information for children's projects, plus a list of some books to read.

South Korea on May 5 throughout the country.

Thanks to Choi for her memories and the picture of the traditional Korean dress, the hanbok.

May 5 is also Children's Day in South Korea. In 1975, the government of South Korea set May 5 as Children's Day, replacing the former Boys' Day, which originated during the Japanese colonial period. On this day Korean people acknowledge the importance of children, regardless of sex. "We are all important, even though many families still want a son, because a son must look after his parents when they get old." At many gatherings, such as parties and picnics, children sing a special song dedicated to Children's Day. They also sing this song at school in the days before the holiday.

It is celebrated throughout the country with parades and special events, such as pageants and martial arts demonstrations. Children often dress up in their traditional costumes, and families take the children out on excursions. Popular places are movies, museums, public zoos and amusement parks, and picnics in parks and gardens. Children run around excitedly and it's a very happy day. "Many children are very spoiled on this day and can get nearly anything they want, especially nice food, balloons, new toys, and ice cream."

See www.jforge.com.tk or http://english.tour2korea.com or http://1uptravel.com/international/asia/southkorea.

Many other countries have a Children's Day or festival of some sort, and we'll try to add to this in the future.

June 1 is International Children's Day in China, with special events in Shanghai.