Happy Golden Week

[Stan Sakai]

April 29 marks the start of Golden Week in Japan, a collection of four national holidays within seven days.

April 29--Green Day (Midori no hi) This used to be the birthday of Emperor Showa who died in 1989. He was a huge environmentalist, so it was redesignated Green Day. In 2007, it will be renamed Showa Day, and Green Day will be moved to May 4.

May 3--Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi) It was on this day in 1947 that the post war constitution went into effect.

May 4--Between Day (Kukumin no kyujitsu) This is a day that falls between two national holidays, so was declared a holiday itself. From 2007, it will be celebrated as Green Day.

May 5--Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) This used to be Boys' Festival (Tango no sekku), when families pray for the health and success of their sons by flying carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls. It was renamed Children's Day to celebrate daughters as well as sons. The old Girls' Day was March 3, and is now Dolls' Day.

[Amy]

Happy Golden Week to you too, Mr. Sakai^_^

And thank you for taking the time to explain what Golden week is exactly! I've heard of it many times visiting my favorite online cel shops, and wondered what it was celebrating. The only thing ever said about it on their sites, was that they wouldn't be mailing packages out for a week. But I can't imagine making a Holiday over the denial of mail order goods.

I wonder if any of the Holidays are gift giving occasions?

[Usagi]

......Lovely!