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Duzine Students Honor Koinobori, or Children's Day

Colorful “koi streamer” decorations bedeck Duzine Elementary’s gymnasium and library wings to celebrate Koinobori, or Children's Day, in Japan on May 5. Duzine Art teacher Jen Cone has been working on creating these treasures with students from Grades 1 and 2. The koi represent perseverance as they swim upstream. Koinobori translates roughly to “carp streamer,” with “koi” meaning carp and “nobori” meaning flag. According to Sugoii-Japan, the koinobori came about between 1603 and 1868. The Shogun, a group of elite military leaders, wanted to celebrate their male heirs by raising the koi flags. Children's Day has since evolved to become gender inclusive. We think children are worth celebrating too!