LIVING IN JAPAN
TRADITION
Holidays
New Year
Girl's Festival
Coming of age
Star Festival
Shichi Go San
Festivals
Environment
Nature
Constitution
|
The Golden Week is a collection of several holidays within seven days. Together with good placed weekends, the Golden Week becomes one of the longest holidays of the year. Many companies give additional days free to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday, while others don't.
Green Day (Midori no hi) April 29:
April 29 used to be the birthday of Emperor Showa who died in the year 1989. After his dead, the day was changed into a national holiday for environment and nature since the emperor was very concerened about the environment.
Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi) May 3:
On this day 1947, the new post-war constitution was put into effect. The day remembers the most important changes of the constitution such as the prohibition of leading war, human rights and the sovereignty of the people.
"Between Day" (Kokumin no kyujitsu) May 4:
Recently created national holiday to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday.
Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) May 5:
This holiday is also called the boy's festival. Families with boys celebrate this day to wish their sons a good future. Carp streamers are hung outside and samurai dolls put inside the house. They symbolize strenghts, power and success in life. Traditionally, special sweets are eaten: rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and mochi wrapped in oak leaves. The oak and bamboo, again symbolize strenght and a successful life.
The girl's or doll festival, on the other hand, is celebrated on March 3.
The Golden Week is the longest holiday beside the New Year and summer vacations, and many Japanese make trips during these days. Therefore, the Golden Week is one of the most busiest travel times on any means of transportation and concerning accomodations. Many people also travel abroad during the Golden Week.
If you, living outside of Japan, plan to make a short trip to Japan, we advice you not to do so during the Golden Week.
|
