Tango no sekku, the Boys' Day Festival dates from the Heian period and is celebrated in Japan on May 5. It is also called shobu no sekku, the Iris Festival as well as kodomo no hi, the Children's Day Festival which is a national holiday. In earlier times, gentlemen of the court wore irises on their head dress and would place iris leaves and yomogi (mugwort) on the eaves of palace buildings to protect from illness and evil. This ancient tradition continues today in many homes in Kyoto and throughout Japan.