Public holidays in Japan

In Japan, there are fifteen public holidays ( Jap.祝 日, shukujitsu ) per year, in the State law to the holidays of the people (国民の祝日に関する法律, kokumin no shukujitsu ni kansuru hōritsu ) are set on 20 July 1948. As in Germany, some of those holidays are (移动 祝 日, Ido shukujitsu ), most holidays, however, are linked to an immutable date floating holidays.

If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a non-working day (振(り)替(え)休 日, furikae kyūjitsu, dt " shifted Holiday" ). Every single day, which falls between two holidays is also a non-working day (国民 の 休日, kokumin no kyūjitsu, dt " day of rest of citizens" ).

In addition to public holidays is also available in Japan, a large number of regional and commemorative celebrations. Before the public holidays were governed by Japanese law, a distinction was made between shukujitsu (祝 日), generally for holiday, and saijitsu (祭日), the ecclesiastical (religious) holiday or regional customs following festivals (祭り, Matsuri ).

Japan took over on 14 October 1873 a notice of the Cabinet of the Gregorian calendar. Until then, the time measurement was based on the lunisolar calendar. Pending the revision of the law of 1948, the holidays were called shukusaijitsu (祝 祭日).

List of Public Holidays (国民 の 祝日)

January

• New Year (元日ganjitsu ,元旦Gantan or新年shinnen ): January 1 On Japanese New Year's Day there is traditionally a family meal with special foods that have symbolic meanings, such as long buckwheat noodles for a long life. In addition, as a rule, a visit to a Shinto shrine ( hatsumōde ) on the program. However, you have to pay to accept especially before large and popular shrines crowds and crowds. Before Japanese shrines (whose building you can not enter ) is sacrificed coins by throwing it into a sure erected wooden box. In some places, a second or higher placed to take all the money specifically for that day. In the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, the surface of a three-room apartment with a plastic tarp even extra knocked out, because there the crowd is particularly large. To when starting midnight in Europe, the fireworks, the money rain begins here. After the visitors have partially been waiting for hours in the courtyard of the shrine, a bell is struck by 24 clock. Thereupon throw all within reach of the money box with coins, especially those to 5 yen, as these are considered particularly auspicious. On this day you can also see many Japanese traditional kimono on the streets. The following days are still considered Holidays, New Year and thus is one of the three main holiday periods in Japan, next to the " Golden Week " around May 1 and O- bon in August. Nearly all businesses and government agencies make from 29 December until 3 January 5th or annual holidays. On January 1, almost all shops are closed. For this holiday, the houses and cars are decorated. Very popular are for bundles of bamboo, golden paper birds and folded after Shrine kind of rice paper. Also starts with a New Year new zodiac sign, the change in Japan only annually. Therefore, images and statues of each new animal are very popular, the animal is also the main subject of the sent to all friends New Year cards.
• Day of adults (成人の日seijin no hi ): On the second Monday in January (until 1999 on 15 January, Holiday since 1948 ) On this day you can see many 20 -year-old (or more precisely those who in this calendar year twenty be ) in kimono on the way to City Hall, where a ceremony to celebrate the coming of age takes place. For many young Japanese women, this is in addition to the wedding, the only opportunity to the kimono is still created.

February

• Anniversary of the Empire (建国記念の日Kenkoku - kinen no hi ): February 11; national holiday since 1966.

March

• Beginning of spring (春分 の 日shunbun no hi ): to March 21 The beginning of spring coincides roughly with the cherry blossom ( sakura ), which is an important event in Japan, and is discussed in the media for days. The beginning of spring itself is not a reason to celebrate, but once, depending on weather conditions earlier times, sometimes later, the Japanese cherry blossom trees in the parks, the Hanami season is open. For the duration of flowering ( which lasts in this species only a few days) you can meet with friends and colleagues in the evening under the trees, making a picnic with plenty of sake and sushi and sometimes the karaoke machine. The cherry blossom time migrates within a few weeks away from the south to the north over Japan.

April

• Shōwa Day (昭和の日Shōwa no hi ): April 29 Until 1988, the birthday of the Shōwa Emperor ( Hirohito ) was celebrated on this day. 1989, year of his death, April 29 was the day of greening (みどりの日midori no hi ). This was postponed to May 4, 2007, which was often due to the kokumin -no- kyūjitsu control also work freely and April 29, the anniversary of the Showa Emperor. On April 29, at the same time begins the so -called Golden Week, which extends until May 5 and includes three other holidays. Many laboring Japanese take in this holiday period, many companies and authorities close.

May

• Constitution Memorial Day (宪法 记念 日kenpō kinenbi ): May 3 Holiday since 1948.
• Day of greening (みどりの日midori no hi ) May 4 The 4th of May was until 2006 no holiday per se, but was regularly kokumin no kyūjitsu. 2007, the World Environment Day on April 29 was moved to May 4 and April 29 for Showa Day.
• Children's Day ( kodomo no hiこどもの日) May 5 For Children are hung with flags in young carp form before each house, the so-called Koinobori. There is always the father a big black, for the mother a red and a blue every son, often in different sizes, depending on age. Originally called the day Tango no sekku (端午 の 節句) and was a feast day exclusively for boys. However, in 1948 changed the meaning of the day to one, at which the children health and happiness is desired.

July

• Marine Day ( umi no hi海の日): At 3rd Monday in July. This holiday was introduced in 1996 to break up the long loose holiday season between May and September. ( Until 2002, he was celebrated on July 20. )

September

• Day of honoring the elderly (敬老の日Keiro no hi ): On the third Monday in September (until 2002 on 15 September). This day is public holiday since 1966.
• Autumn Equinox (秋分の日Shubun no hi ): To 22 September.

October

• Sports Day (体育の日taiiku no hi ): On the second Monday in October (until 1999 on 10 October, the anniversary of the beginning of the XVIII Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 1964. ). Holiday since 1966. On this day, Japan's sports festivals are held in many schools and kindergartens.

November

• Culture Day (文化 の 日bunka no hi ): November 3 (until 1945 Day of Remembrance for the birthday of Emperor Meiji )
• Arbeitsdank tag (勤労感謝の日Kinro kansha no hi literally day of thanks to the work): November 23. Holiday since 1948.

December

• Emperor's Birthday (天皇 诞生 日tennō no tanjobi ): December 23 (Birth of the present Emperor Akihito, Holiday since 1989) The birthday every reigning emperor, Tenno, is a holiday for the duration of his reign, however, is sometimes even after his resignation still retained (see Midori no Hi in May and Bunka no Hi in November ). On the birthday of the current Tenno part of the courtyard of the Imperial Palace to the general public opens. ( The traditional approach of the Emperor to his people, however, is of a glazed balcony of the Imperial Palace from not on his birthday, but on January 2, instead of what the courtyard will open one more time for the general public. )

Other holidays

• Setsubun (节 分): February 3 According to the lunar calendar begins on this day of Spring (立春, risshun ), although it is the coldest time in Japan. Traditionally, accuses the head of the family inside and outside the house beans fuku wa uchi, retrieving, oni wa soto. ( 「福は内,鬼 は 外. 」, Dt "Luck in! Evil spirits out !"). Windows and doors are opened. Then you eat the beans, the age of one. At many temples and shrines ( especially at the Kannon temples ) find that day instead of events in which beans are also thrown.

• Doll Festival (雏 祭, hinamatsuri ): March 3, It will be exhibited in historical kimono dolls (人形, Ningyo ). This holiday is dedicated to the girls. The superstition by the dolls take evil spirits into himself and thus protect the owner. The origin of the holiday is in the nagashiBina (流し 雛, dt " drifting of dolls " ), it is on this day paper figures in a boat in the river, which then drives the evil spirits. Traditionally Amazake is drunk (, dt " sweet sake " ) in this festival.
• Irei no hi (慰霊の日​​): Remembrance Day, which commemorates the end of the battle for Okinawa on 23 June 1945.
• O- bon (お盆, obon ): August 13, Buddhist remembrance for the deceased. Many Japanese go to her hometown, make the most of Company for a few days of holiday, which comprise about four to seven days around the 13th August. Government departments and agencies, however, remain open, since a strict separation of religion and state prevails in Japan and therefore they must ignore religious feast days.
• Star Festival ( " Tanabata " ): On July 7 of each year, the Star Festival is celebrated, which goes back to a Chinese fable of the cowherd and the weaver princess. On this day, wishes are written on slips of paper and hung on bamboo branches. In some places, the branches are exposed and lit on the river. (More on this here.)
• Seven - Five - Three (七五 三, shichi go san ): November 15 On this day it is common for parents to three -or seven- year-old girl and five -year-old boys go with these for Shinto shrine to pray for their health, safety and happy future. In some parts of the country, the three year old boy come up with. The children are formally dressed and there are formal photos taken; also buys you special sweets and distributed them behind to family and friends. The custom arose once to thank at the former high infant mortality rate to the local god for the survival of the child. Today, however, larger, more well-known shrines are visited in a little further away instead of local times.

• Japanese Festival
• List ( Holidays)