Holidays In Japan ` For The Month Of May ^_^ Golden Week

MAY 3
kempo-kinembi (Constitution Memorial Day)*
Commemoration of the 1947 Constitution of Japan and celebration of hope in the growth of the nation.

MAY 4
Kokumin-no-kyujitsu (People's Day)*
A new holiday established in 1999.

MAY 5
kodomo-no-hi or tango-no-sekku (Children's Day)*
Although translated as "Children's Day," this festival is the male counterpart of hina matsuri. Cloth banners resembling carp are displayed outside while dolls in samurai outfits are displayed indoors by families with boys, in hopes that their children will be healthy and fit.
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May 3rd, Kenpo-kinen-bi, Constitution Day
This is the day to celebrate the new Japanese Constitution implemented after the second World war. In the previous Meiji Constitution, the Emperor was confirmed to be a living Shinto god (kami). In the new Constitution, this was changed, on the suggestion of Dr. Reischauer (ASIJ alumnus) and others in the U. S. Department of State, to confirm the emperor as the symbol of the Japanese people. Also, the famous Article Nine was added, saying, in part, that Japan will not use military power to resolve international disputes.
(SO WHY IS THE PUPPET GOVERNMENT IN IRAQ)

MAY 4
Kokumin-no-kyujitsu (People's Day)*
Since 1999, japanese citizens have their official day off: Kokumin No Kyujitsu, on the 4th of may.
This public holiday was instituted in 1985 to officialize the holidays' period called "golden week" and to thus encourage the household consumption and to support the development of the tourist industry.

Between Day (Kokumin no kyujitsu)
Between Day, May 4, comes as a result of Japanese law: a day that falls between two national holidays is, by default, a holiday, too. Around here, we like to call this the "Holiday With No Name". It's clearly an acknowledgment that people who are taking advantage of the many holidays of Golden Week won't stop vacationing to return to the office for just one day, and the Japanese name of the holiday translates to "citizens' day off".

Interestingly, if Between Day falls on a Sunday, the day is not considered a holiday. This is important because if it's an official holiday, workers are eligible for paid time off. This holiday was established in 1999.

Starting in 2007, Greenery Day is moving to May 4, effectively replacing Between Day. But we're sure the Japanese people will still harbor a fondness for the quirky little holiday with no name. SO CUTE ^_^

May 5th Kodomo-no-hi Children's Day
This holiday was originally based on a Chinese celebration of cleaning out bad spirits by hanging irises and herbs called Yomogi in the entry way and also eating dumplings made out of Yomogi at the beginning of the month. Later it became Boys Day to celebrate boys health and growth by displaying armor inside or fish kites outside. After the last war it became a national holiday celebrating both boys and girls well-being.
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Kodomo-no-hi (more info)

Originally known as boy's day, it is now a celebration of all children. Much like Girl's Day (Hinamatsuri), dolls for boys are put on display in homes. The dolls are patterned after warriors and heroes. Carp are another symbol of Children's Day. They represent strength (known to swim up waterfalls), and success in life. An ancient practice of bathing with flag plant leaves is also observed on this day; it is said to have medicinal values. It is also important on this day to make offerings of Japanese confections: rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves.

http://sekichiku.free...
~~~~~~~~~ GOLDEN WEEK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Japan is a nation which likes its festivals and holidays. The small, and not so small, celebrations occur throughout the year, but aren?t always given much notice. By notice, I mean national holiday in which companies shut down and give their employees a paid day off. If it?s one thing the Japanese are renown for, it?s going to their jobs and working like madcakes, making us 9-5ers look like slackers in comparison.

When the Japanese get a national holiday one can only imagine how thrilled they are to have a day off to relax. But the Japanese don?t just do single paid holidays like we do, that?s for slackers. They have lump sum holidays spanning multiple days, such as New Year?s in January and Obon in August. These two holidays are chump change compared to Golden Week, however.

Golden Week is a group of Japanese holidays which starts on April 29 (Showa Day) and ends on May 5 (Children?s Day, formerly Boy?s Day). The Japanese, for the most part, have this entire week off, depending on how Golden Week falls on the calendar. This year, unfortunately, Golden Week is so set up that the 29th is on a Tuesday, May 3-4 are on a weekend, and May 5-6 are on a Monday and Tuesday. Essentially hard-working natives only have four consecutive days off as opposed to the possible six.