Annual Events in Japan

+January
【1/1】 The New Year's Day
New year's Day is considered to be the most important annual event in Japan. We exchange New Year's cards called nengajo on New Year's Days. Some go to Shinto Shrines in our best dresses to pray for good luck and happiness for the year.We visit our relatives and friends to exchange New Year's greetings. Children are given a gift of money called otoshidama. People relax by flying kites or playing cards. We make our resolutions for the year on New Year's Day.January 15th is Adult's Day, which is a kind of initiation ceremony for people who have turned 20. Ceremonies are held in every city, town and village.


+February
【2/3】 The bean-throwing ceremony
February 3rd is "Setsubun" or "the bean-throwing ceremony", when we throw dried beans to drive demons away and invite fortune to come in!! When we throw beans, we shout "Oni wa soto Fuku wa uchi" (Devils out, fortune in!) Afterwards, we eat as many beans as we are years old!

【2/14】 Valentine's Day
February 14 is Valentine's Day, but the day has been largely Japanized recently. It has become the day on which young women should give small gifts, commonly chocolate, not only to their boy friends, but also to their male colleagues or bosses, as a token of their love or good will.
　In the latter case, the gift is called "Giri Choko", or Obligation Chocolate, since it is given from the sense of obligation, and not from love. The proper manners for the recipients are that they should duly reciprocate the gifts on White Day ( March 14 ), which is a genuinely Japanese institution!!



+March
【3/3】 The Doll's Festival
March 3rd is Hina-Matsuri, the Doll's Festival for girls. People display a set of dolls and pray for the sound growth of girls in the family. We offer sweet mild sake and diamond-shaped rice cakes on the doll-stand. Hina dolls wear ancient court costumes.


+April
April is the season of an entrance ceremony in most schools. At this time of the year, many people get together under the cherry blossoms in the park and enjoy viewing the blossoms drinking "sake" and "beer".


+May
It is not too cold or too hot in May in Japan, and May is said to be the best season for outings. Especially in golden week... Many national holidays are concentrated together during this week.

【5/5】 Children's Day
May 5th is Children's Day, which is held mainly for boys. Families with little boys fly carp streamers outside the house. People display a set of warrior dolls inside the house.


+June
The rainy season begins in June. Generally speaking, the rainy season lasts three or four weeks, and people consider it the worst season of the year. Rice is planted in the paddy fields during this season.


+July
【7/7】 Tanabata (The Festival of the Weaver Star)
July 7th is "Tanabata" or the Festival of the Weaver Star. The Festival of the Weaver Star is said to come from ancient China. Tanabata is a very romanticfestival and attractive to the children. In old times people believed that the Weaver Star and Altair are allowed to meet only once a year on this evening.



+August

【8/13～15】 Obon (Lantern festival)
Obon is held on August 13, 14 and 15 and is the festival of the dead spirits. People visit their family cemeteries during Obon. We offer various foods on the family altar. In the evenings, Bon Festival dances are held here and there to entertain the spirits of the dead. A lot of people wear yukata, a casual kimono for summer, and dance until late at night to folk songs and drumming.


+September
On the day of the full-moon in September, we have a special moon-viewing. We call it Jugoya and it is said to be the best day for moon-viewing. We display pampas grass on the veranda and offer dumplings to the moon.



+October
We always use the phrase "XXX no aki" (Autumn for "XXX") in autumn. For example, "Dokushono aki" (reading), "Shokuyokuno aki" (Appetite) "Sports no aki" (Sports) and so on... How about me?? "Shokuyoku no aki" for sure ;D


+November
We have shichi-go-san in November. It literally means seven-five-three. This is a celebration for seven, five, three year-old children. Parents dress their children in their best clothes and visit shrines. They pray for the good health and a happy future of their children.


+December
We celebrate Christmas in Japan, but the meaning is a bit different from that in Western countries. It can be said a commercial event rather than a religious one. Stores are crowded with shoppers buying Christmas presents.

December 31st is called "Ohmisoka"(New Year's Eve). We have a custom to eat toshikoshi soba (year-end buckwheat noodles) on New Year's Eve. We listen to one hundred and eight strokes of the temple bells at night! Why 108 times?? That's because these pearls are said to drive away 108 kinds of our worldly concerns!