Halethorpe Family Celebrates Boy's Day

On the afternoon of May 5, Wil and Tracey Heslop of Halethorpe led a small procession of family and friends from their home on the 4500 block of Maple Ave. to the community flagpole at the end of the Francis Avenue bridge to observe the traditional Japanese celebration of Boy's Day.

Known as Children's Day since the late 1940s (there's a Girl's Day in March), May 5 has traditionally been an occasion to honor the health and development of male children in Japanese families, explained Wil Heslop, who is half Japanese.

The Heslops hosted the celebration for the first Boy's Day of their son, Liam. For the occasion, one-year-old Liam was well-tempered but oblivious to the fuss focused upon him.

Liam wore a paper samurai helmet, called a kabuto, bearing his name in ink, and a miniature kimono known as a yukata-the very robe Wil wore for his own first Boy's Day 43 years ago, said Wil's mother, Catherine, who was in from St. Mary's County.

Japanese families often traditionally hang colorful carp-shaped streamers during the spring. A carp is flown for each son in the family, the largest representing the oldest and ranging down in size to the youngest.

Heslop explained the significance of the carp before they were raised at the community flagpole. The carp is a strong and tenacious animal that swims upstream against swift-running currents and over cascades. The image alludes to manliness and the determination to overcome obstacles.

"You want your son to be strong-strong like a carp," Heslop said.

According to folklore, the carp streamers were also hung in spring at the time when locusts arrived and began damaging crops. Farmers hung the carp to frighten away insects-the Japanese version of a scarecrow, he said.

Jack Schaefer, of the Halethorpe Improvement Association, assisted by lowering the flags that had been flying and hoisting the streamers Heslop had carried.

Four flags were raised-a long multi-colored streamer signifiying a dragon, and three carp. The largest carp, in black, represents Wil. A middle-sized red carp is for Tracey. The smallest blue carp on the bottom is Liam.

After taking photos, the group walked back to the Heslops for refreshments.

"It was awesome," said family friend, Amelia.