What holidays are there in Japan, such as winter holidays?

There are many types of holidays in Japan, and there are roughly two types.

Many people call statutory holidays red days because these days are marked in red on the calendar.

There are also longer holidays, such as the end of the year and the beginning of the year (around New Year's Day), Golden Week (May), and summer break (August). The length varies from company to company, but they generally take a break.

Statutory holidays are as follows:

New Year’s Day, January 1st

Adult Day, the second Monday in January

Commemoration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China February 11th

The Vernal Equinox is calculated according to the calendar (in 2006 it was March 21st)

Green Day is April 29th (renamed Showa Day since 2007)

Constitutional Remembrance Day, May 3rd

National Holiday, May 4th

Children’s Day, May 5th

Sea Day 7 The third Monday of the month

Respect for the Aged Day The third Monday of September

National holidays are calculated according to the calendar (not available in 2006)

Autumnal Equinox Calculated according to the calendar (2006 is September 23)

Sports Day is the second Monday in October

Cultural Day is November 3rd

Industrious Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd

The Emperor’s Birthday, December 23rd

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Japanese holidays

New Year

In Japanese tradition, New Year is a time of thanksgiving It is also a time to welcome the ancestral gods who bless you. The Japanese are accustomed to hanging pine, bamboo and straw ropes on both sides of the door to welcome these gods and spirits. At the beginning of the year, people express their gratitude to gods and ancestral spirits and pray for a good harvest in the new year. For the Japanese, New Year is the most important holiday of the year. Many people make plans and resolutions at this time.

New Year's Cards

During the New Year, people receive greeting cards from relatives, friends and acquaintances, called "New Year's Greetings". In 1998, Japanese people sent approximately 4 billion greeting cards for the New Year.

Visiting a temple for the first time (Hatsujo)

During the New Year, relatives and friends gather together and everyone makes an appointment to visit a Shinto or Buddhist temple. This activity is called "Hatsujo". Yi". If people go to a Shinto temple, they will choose a temple that is in a "favorable position" relative to their family. The purpose of visiting the shrine is also to pray for a good harvest and family peace.

The largest number of visitors is Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo (3.45 million in 1998), followed by Kawasaki in Kanagawa (3.19 million), and Naritagawa Shinshuji Temple in Chiba (3.15 million)

New Year's money

During the New Year, children receive New Year's money from their parents and relatives. So there is a special reason why children look forward to the arrival of the New Year. In recent years, it is common for children in junior high or high school to receive lucky money of 5,000 or 10,000 yen each. To sum it up, children often receive New Year's money totaling tens of thousands of yen.

New Year Games

In the past, almost all children would participate in some outdoor activities, such as flying kites, spinning tops, or a badminton-like sport called "feathering". Indoor games include "Ugaruta," a poker game that tests participants' memory of poems from the "Hundred Ones" poetry collection, and "Sugoroku," a backgammon-like board game. But today's children are surrounded by new and flashy modern game shows, and these games of yesteryear are less attractive.

Spring

The Beginning of Spring ("Festival")

According to the lunar calendar adopted in 1873, the calculation of months lagged behind the modern calendar by about a month and a half. The arrival of spring, Rishun ("rise spring" or "setsubun"), is designated on the third or fourth day of the second month of the new year. Some commemorative activities for the beginning of spring are held on February 3rd or 4th, although this happens to be the coldest winter day in Japan. On this festival, Japanese people open their doors and windows, shouting "Ghosts go out, luck comes in" and scatter beans. It is said that eating the same number of beans as your age on this day will be good for your health. This custom was originally held in the palace on the last day of the lunar calendar, symbolizing driving away ghosts, winter cold and gloom, and welcoming the arrival of the new bright spring.

Doll Festival ("Hina Festival")

Doll Festival is celebrated on March 3rd, which is not far from spring. This is an annual day for young girls to pray for happiness and healthy growth. On this day, every household displays dolls and peach blossoms dressed in traditional palace attire, as well as offering diamond-shaped rice cakes and dry rice balls. The Festival of Dolls derives from ancient beliefs about ritual purification. It was believed that human sin and filth could be washed away through purification rituals at the riverside. Later, paper dolls were used in these ceremonies; after the Edo period (1600-1868), these dolls were designed to look like today's toys.

Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is around March 21st.

On this day, people must visit the graves of deceased friends and ask Buddhist monks to recite sutras. A similar festival is called the Autumnal Equinox, which is celebrated annually on September 23rd.

Viewing Cherry Blossoms

In late March and early April, in most places in Japan, the cherry blossoms that symbolize the country of Japan are in full bloom. Japanese people hold picnics under the cherry blossom trees and enjoy themselves. The custom of picnicking under cherry blossom trees has been popular among ordinary Japanese people since the Edo period.

Golden Week

April is a nervous time for students who have just started the new school year and new company employees. April also happens to be the beginning of Japan's fiscal year. However, starting from the end of April, many people have the opportunity to take a week to 10 days off, because there are many festivals during this period: Green Day on April 29th, Constitution Day on May 3rd, and May 5th. children's day. In addition, since 1985, May 4th has also been designated as a public holiday. Therefore, this period is called Golden Week. During this time, the weather is warm and sunny, making it suitable for short trips. Tourist resorts across Japan are bustling with tourists. Golden Week is famous for its traffic jams.

Children's Day ("Dragon Boat Festival")

Children's Day in Japan falls on May 5th during Golden Week. Traditionally called Boys' Day, it is a festival specially set up for boys to pray for healthy growth and future career success. Customs such as placing carp streamers, dolls in samurai costumes, and eating rice dumplings and kashiwa mochi are very popular in Japan. In ancient times, May was considered the worst month of the year, and the fifth day of May was even more unlucky. The "Dragon Boat Festival" began as a purification ritual to drive away evil spirits and eliminate impurities. On this day, the Japanese custom of taking a hot bath in a basin of orris. Tradition holds that the leaves have curative properties and can ward off evil spirits.

Summer

Tanabata (Qixi Festival)

This is a fusion of Chinese legends and ancient Japanese customs. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are separated on the east and west sides of the Milky Way and can only meet on July 7 every year. It is said that in Japan, the Tanabata Festival began in the sixth year of Emperor Shomu’s reign. On this day, people tie colored papers with poems and wishes written on them to bamboo poles. The wishes made on this day will come true. Today, Tanabata is celebrated in many places in Japan. The most famous places are Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto Prefecture, Kotopira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, Hiratsuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture, and Takaoka City in Toyama Prefecture. In addition, Sendai Tanabata is celebrated one month after Tanabata in other places in Japan, that is, August 7, which is closer to the day that should be Tanabata according to the lunar calendar.

Fireworks

In summer, the night sky across Japan is dotted with colorful fireworks, and fireworks displays are held in many places. Japanese fireworks technology is said to be the best in the world and has been passed down from the Edo period. Today, pyrotechnic displays are often computer-controlled, ensuring precision and spectacular results. In Tokyo, the fireworks display along the Sumida River has been very famous since the Edo period.

Obon ("Bon")

"Bon" is an annual day to welcome and comfort the spirits of ancestors. It is said that the spirits of ancestors come to the home on this day. According to tradition, "Pen" is commemorated on the 17th day of July in the lunar calendar. Now, people generally commemorate it from July 13th to 15th, although in some areas it is celebrated from August 13th to 15th.

On July 13, people light fires to welcome the spirits of their ancestors. On the 16th, people light farewell fires to send the spirits of their ancestors back. During the "Basin" period, many companies and stores are on vacation, because people who work in other places have to go back with their wives and children. Just like during Golden Week, traffic can be very heavy at this time.

Autumn

("Moon View")

According to the lunar calendar, the full moon is around mid-September, and the night is the Mid-Autumn Festival. People gather to admire the moon on this day. This custom originally originated in China and spread to Japan during the Heian period (794–1185). During this festival, people decorate their houses with eulalia grass (susuki) and offer homemade dumplings to the moon along with their autumn harvest.

Shichigosan

November 15th is the day when boys aged three and five and girls aged five and seven visit the shrine. According to tradition, the little boy wears a special traditional costume and the little girl wears a kimono. But now, kids wear other costumes too. On this day, the children's parents will go to the store to buy a candy called Chitose candy for their children. It is said that this candy can bring longevity to the children. The whole family was busy eating red beans, rice and bream with head and tail.

Winter

Year-end parties ("year-end parties")

The year-end parties start in December. Japanese people like to hold many year-end parties in bars and restaurants, called "year-end parties". Year-end Party". The purpose of these gatherings is to thank people for their hard work, forget their unpleasantness, and enjoy themselves at the end of the year. The Japanese are very fond of such gatherings, and people of different ages and groups, including students and company employees, are busy planning these events. In most cases, such parties are hosted and paid for by companies.

Christmas

In Japan, Christmas is becoming more and more popular. Whether they are Christians or not, people like to decorate Christmas trees, eat Christmas cakes and exchange gifts with each other. It is a happy time for children as they wait for Santa Claus to bring gifts.

New Year's Eve ("Big Day")

After Christmas and the grand year-end party, it will soon be December 31st, which is New Year's Eve in Japan. Before midnight, Buddhist temples across the country ring New Year's bells, a ritual called the "Great Night Bell." The bell rings 108 times, symbolizing the purification of 108 worldly desires. Then, the new year begins as the festivities of the first month kick off.

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