Feb 10, 2011

Japanese holidays

biar ga googling lg kalo mau cari tau besok/lusa/hari ni libur apa ya?

  • January 1 (national holiday)New Year (shogatsu): This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3.
  • The coming of age of 20 year old men and women is celebrated on this national holiday.
  • Beginning of spring (setsubun):
    Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide.
  • February 11 (national holiday)
    National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):  
     According to the earliest Japanese history records, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned.  
  • February 14
    Valentine's Day:
    In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. It is not a national holiday 
  • March 3
    Doll's Festival (hina matsuri):
    Also called girl's festival.
  • March 14
    White Day:
    The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday.
  • Around March 20 (national holiday)
    Spring Equinox Day (shunbun no hi):
    Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.
       
  • April 29 (national holiday)
    Showa Day (Showa no hi):
    The birthday of former Emperor Showa. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery Day (now celebrated on May 4). Showa day is part of golden week.
     
  • May 5 (national holiday)
    Children's Day (kodomo no hi):
    Also called boy's festival.
  • July/August 7
    Star Festival (tanabata):
    Tanabata is a festival rather than a national holiday
  •  Third Monday of July (national holiday)
    Ocean Day (umi no hi):
    A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate the ocean. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.
      
  • July/August 13-15
    Obon:
    Obon is a festival to commemorate deceased ancestors
  • Third Monday of September (national holiday)
    Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):
    Respect for the elderly and longevity are celebrated on this national holiday
  •  Around September 23 (national holiday)
    Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi):
    Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day.
     
  • Second Monday of October (national holiday)
    Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi).
  • November 3 (national holiday)
    Culture Day (bunka no hi):
    A day for promotion of culture and the love of freedom and peace.
  •  November 15
    Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):
    A festival for children, Shichigosan is not a national holiday
  • November 23 (national holiday)
    Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):
    A national holiday for honoring labour.
     
  • December 23 (national holiday)
    Emperor's Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):
    The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.
     
  • December 24-25
    Christmas:
    Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese.
  • December 31
    New Year's Eve (omisoka):
    December 31 is not a national holiday.    
     
  • If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will also be a holiday. If a day lies between two national holidays, the day will also be turned into a holiday.  

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