Happy Golden Week
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 9:35 -0700
April 29 marks the start of Golden Week, a time of a number of national holidays:
April 29: Green Day (Midori no hi) used to commemmorate the birthday of Emperor Showa who died in 1989. Since then it has become a celebration of nature and the environment.
May 3: Constitution Day (Kenpo Kinenbi) commemmorates the day Japan's constitution was put into effect.
May 4: Between Day (Kokumin no Kyujitsu) seems to be established just to bridge Constitution Day and Children's Day into a continuous holiday.
May 5: Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) used to be known as Boys' Day (Tango no Sekku) and celebrates the boys in the family. Carp banners are flown for each male child in a household and sweets wrapped in bamboo and oak leaves (symbols of strength and success) are eaten. (The traditional Girls' Day is March 3 but is now more commonly known as Dolls' Day.)
April 29: Green Day (Midori no hi) used to commemmorate the birthday of Emperor Showa who died in 1989. Since then it has become a celebration of nature and the environment.
May 3: Constitution Day (Kenpo Kinenbi) commemmorates the day Japan's constitution was put into effect.
May 4: Between Day (Kokumin no Kyujitsu) seems to be established just to bridge Constitution Day and Children's Day into a continuous holiday.
May 5: Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) used to be known as Boys' Day (Tango no Sekku) and celebrates the boys in the family. Carp banners are flown for each male child in a household and sweets wrapped in bamboo and oak leaves (symbols of strength and success) are eaten. (The traditional Girls' Day is March 3 but is now more commonly known as Dolls' Day.)