Japanese Holidays and Traditional Festivals!

Japanese Holidays and Traditional Festivals!

 

1.    New Year

Most of people have a week off work over the New Year period, and families celebrate the new year together. New Year’s cards are exchanged, people eat traditional dishes called Osechi and Zoni, and visit shrines. Children get money as a New Year’s present from their relatives.

 

2.    Vacations

Aside from the New Year’s holiday, there is also a holiday from the end of April to the beginning of May called Golden Week, and a holiday called Obon, when the spirits of the ancestors are believed to return to earth, which many businesses incorporate into summer holidays.

 

3.    Holidays

We have 15 national holidays in a year.

・New Year’s Day

・Coming-of-Age Day

・National Foundation Day

・Vernal Equinox Day

・Green Day

・Constitution Day

・National Holiday

・Children’s Day

・Ocean Day

・Respect-for-the-Aged Day

・Autumnal Equinox Day

・Health-Sports Day

・Culture Day

・Labor Thanksgiving Day

・The Emperor’s Birthday

 

4.    Traditional Events

・Setsubun (February 3)

   Setsubun is the day preceding the first day of spring. People throw beans in   and around the house, shouting “Good luck in! Devils out!”

・Hina-Matsuri (March 3)

    Hina-Matsuri is a doll festival for girls, and dolls are displayed in ancient costumes to pray for the health and happiness of girls.

・Tango-no-sekku (May 5)

    Tango-no-sekku is a festival for boys, and people pray for the strength and health of boys, represented by the carp streamers hoisted outside. The day is celebrated as Children’s Day.

・Tanabata (July 7)

    Tanabata is a star festival. People write their wishes on pieces of paper and tie them to bamboo trees. This festival is based on the legend of two stars, Altair and Vega, which can only meet in the Milky Way once a year.

・Shichi-go-san (November 15)

    Shichi-go-san is a festival to pray for the health of children aged three, five and seven years old. Parents dress their children up in traditional or modern costumes, take them to shrines and pray for their children’s continued health.