Golden Week

WHY ARE ALL THESE FISHES HANGING? People started hanging all these fishes all over the place. On their balconies, over rivers, hanging from high buildings in Naha... but the question I kept asking myself was why? Finally, as Golden Week began, (a series of holidays in one week, with no work or school) my question became answered.
This passed friday was Children's Day, but it was mostly aimed for the boys because "the girls" had Hina Matusuri, where girls eat cake with dolls in front of them to help them get married. (or something like that) Anyways, so the fish represent a certain type of strong fish, that become strong as they like to swim against the flow of the rivers where they live. They also like to swim around waterfalls, making them strong fish. So it's the same message that parent's here want for their children, "swim strong."
To mark off the start of Golden Week, there were Harri races. (not harry but HA-RRi with rolled R's)
Down by the docks, every morning the sound of the pallet gun sounded off the men to start padeling. The pallet gun could be heard all the way down the carnival lane as the kids played booth games. It was quite the excitement! Food was heard sizzling up and down the street. Yaki soba, corn on the cob, chicken drumsticks and the Colonel himself dressed up in carnival gear each sold a plenty.
Live music could be heard on the opposite end of the carnival with loud taiko drums and the famous "Ye ya sa sa" hymn; and as each evening drew to an end, the sky lit up in wonderful colors as children covered their ears to the sound of the fireworks.
It was quite a fun and wonderful week.