May Holidays
In the beginning of May, there is a holiday season called the Golden Week. Several national holidays come one after another and together with the weekends the holiday continues for a week to ten days long.
May 5th is Children's Day, a national holiday for parents and grandparents to pray for their dear little ones' healthy growth. During the Edo Period this Children's Day used to be called Tango no Sekku (as compared to Momo no Sekku for 3/3 Girl's Festival) and this day people with boys had yoroi-kabuto (warrior armor and/or helmet) out and put up the koinobori* (streamers dyed to look like carps) to pray for their boys to become a strong, valiant man and to make his way in life.
Today the tradition still remains and families celebrate the day with yoroi-kabuto and koinobori, but has become a Children's Festival for all children including girls as well.
So on this occasion, why don't we try making kabuto, one of the most enjoyed origami in Japan?
You can always make it with regular origami, but for this one you might enjoy it more if you use a bigger piece of paper. The paper doesn't matter as long as its a perfect square. Just any newspaper or even soft bord paper will do. This way, you can make one which you can actually wear on your head!
Wear it on your head and become a samurai for a moment !!
*koinobori: koi, which is the Japanese name for carps is believed to be a lucky fish which symbolizes advancement and success
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