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Japanese Holidays
Young women wearing kimonos on Coming Of Age Day, January 10.
(Photo by Van)
Sunday February 20, 2005
There are 15 national holidays in Japan, and many other celebrated days.
January 1-3: New Year
This is the most important national holiday in Japan. Years are viewed as completely separate, with each new year providing a fresh start. January 1 is traditionally believed to be representative for the whole year that has just commenced. Therefore, the day is supposed be full of joy and free of stress and anger, while everything should be clean and no work should be done.
Second Monday of January: Coming of Age Day
The coming of age of twenty year old men and women is celebrated. Twenty is considered to be the beginning of adulthood, and is the minimum age for voting, drinking, and smoking.
February 3: Beginning Of Spring
This is not a national holiday. It marks the beginning of Spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. It is traditionally a day for performing rituals to chase away evil spirits.
February 11: National Foundation Day
On this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned.
February 14: Valentine's Day
In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. It is not a national holiday.
March 3: Girls' Festival:
Families wish their daughters a successful and happy life. Dolls are displayed in the house together with peach blossoms. The festival has its origin in a Chinese custom in which bad fortune is transferred to dolls and then removed by abandoning the doll on a river.
March 14: White Day
The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday.
March 21: Spring Equinox Day
Graves are visited during the week of the first day of Spring. The day itself is a national holiday.
April 29: Greenery Day
Emperor Showa's birthday. After his death in 1989, the day was changed into a national holiday for environment and nature since the beloved emperor loved nature. From 2007, this national holiday will be renamed Showa Day, and Greenery Day will be moved to May 4.
May 3: Constitution Day
On this day in 1947, the new postwar constitution was put into effect.
May 4: Declared National Holiday
A recently created national holiday to make Golden Week (the string of holidays in the first week of May) a continuous holiday.
May 5: Boys' Day
Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life.
Third Monday of July: Marine Day
A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate the ocean. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.
Third Monday of September: Respect for the Aged Day
Respect for the elderly and longevity are celebrated.
September 23: Autumn Equinox Day
Graves are visited during the week of the first day of Autumn. The day itself is a national holiday.
Second Monday of October: Health And Sports Day
On this day in 1964, the Tokyo Olympic games were opened.
November 3: Culture Day
A day for the promotion of culture and the love for freedom and peace.
November 23: Labour Thanksgiving Day
A national holiday for honoring labour.
December 23: Emperor's Birthday
The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday of the new emperor.
December 25: Christmas
Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese.
I like their version of Valentine's day, if it wasn't for for White day!
Posted by Dad on February 26, 2005 04:00 AM