B This is a Japanese event on November 15. Parents pray for children's growth on this day. The odd numbered years of this are important period of a child's growth. The ages of three and five are for boys, three and seven for girls.
Children dress up in their dresses and go with their parents to a shrine.
Children are given thousand-year candy, which is long, thin, red and white candy in bags with crane and turtle illustrations. In Japan both the crane and the turtle are symbols of long life. Also, red and white are a happy color combination for the Japanese. All these indicate the wish for children's health and growth.