A Day for the Boys|日本男孩节物语

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

Honoring Japan's sons and children in general during one of Japan's most festive holidays.

Every May 5 in Japan, children are given special attention by the community. Traditionally _(1)_ as Boys' Day, this holiday is now called Children's Day, or Tango no Sekku in Japanese. It is a time to wish children health and happiness.

_(2)_ Girls' Day celebrations, special decorations are also prepared for the boys of a family. In one of the guest rooms, a display is _(3)_ with a miniature helmet, suits of armor, a sword, a bow and arrow, and a silk banner with the family's crest. Dolls that _(4)_ warrior heroes from Japanese legends are arranged alongside them. One of the most famous is Kintaro, a warrior who was known for his strength as a boy and who grew up to become a general. Windsocks _(5)_ carp flown outside these homes are another sign of Tango no Sekku. This tradition originated from a Chinese legend about a carp that swims upstream and is _(6)_ into a dragon. A windsock is raised for the father, mother, and each son in the family, with the color and position of the sons' windsocks telling their ages and birth order.

No holiday in Asia would be complete _(7)_ snacks made especially for the occasion. Kashiwa-mochi, glutinous rice cakes filled with red bean paste and wrapped in cypress leaves, are served as well as chimaki, sweet rice dumplings encased in bamboo leaves. These are just a handful of ways Tango no Sekku is celebrated as part of Japan's interesting culture.

1.  (A) to celebrate    (B) celebrating (C) celebrates  (D) celebrated

2.  (A) Similar to  (B) Devoted to  (C) Relative to (D) Compared to

3.  (A) used up (B) picked up   (C) set up  (D) covered up

4.  (A) notify  (B) visualize   (C) persuade    (D) represent

5.  (A) at the cost of  (B) in the shape of (C) by means of (D) on behalf of

6.  (A) transported (B) transferred (C) transmitted (D) transformed

7.  (A) for (B) from    (C) without (D) out of

日本男孩节物语

在日本最欢庆的节日之一尊崇日本的男孩和孩童。

在日本，每年的 5 月 5 日儿童都会受到大家特别的注意。传统上这个节日是庆祝男孩节，不过现在称做儿童节，日文则称为 Tango no Sekku。这一天是祝福孩子们健康快乐的时刻。

和女孩节的庆典相似，家人也会为替男孩准备特殊的装饰品。在某间客房中，会陈列迷你头盔、成套的盔甲、剑、弓箭和有家族纹饰的丝质旗帜。代表日本传说中的武士英雄玩偶则和这些物品并排在一起。其中最有名的 1 位叫金太郎，这名武士小时候以力量著称，长大后成为一位将军。布制的鲤鱼形状风向旗在户外随风飘扬也是男孩节的另一个象征。这个传统源自于中国有条鲤鱼逆流而上化身为龙的传奇。飘扬的鲤鱼旗代表了爸爸、妈妈和家中的每个儿子，而儿子的旗子颜色和位置则说明了他们的年纪和在家中的排行。

在亚洲，节日如果少了应节点心就不算完整。男孩节的应节点心有 kashiwa-mochi（柏饼，用柏叶包起来的红豆馅蔴糬）和 chimaki（日本粽子，用竹叶包的甜粽）。以上这些只是庆祝男孩节这项有趣日本文化的几个方法而已。

答案：1. (D)2. (A)3. (C)4. (D)5. (B)

6. (D)7. (C)

5 月 5 日是日本的端午节，据说是中国传来的，从 1 千 3 百年前的奈良时代开始，家家门口都挂上艾草制的『艾人』和菖蒲。菖蒲的日语发音同『尚武』一样，到了平安时代，日本宫廷在端午节这天举行骑射活动驱除恶鬼，骑射活动很快成为日本民间的端午节活动。

到了江户时代，阴历 5 月 5 日被将军幕府定为重要的节日，将军的儿子出生时要升旗庆祝，据说这是 5 月 5 日成为男孩节的缘由。此后武士家庭诞生儿子，为了庆祝『后继有人』，就在家中摆设头盔铠甲。头盔铠甲是保命的护具，同时是武士精神的象征，祈祝家中男孩子健康成长，日后成为顶天立地的男子汉。

由于从明治维新之后，日本的新年改在元旦，所以许多农历节日的日期也相应调整，端午节也从那以后改在每年阳历 5 月 5 日。

（数据源：大纪元日报）