Japanese Festivals
& Annual Events
Some of the main events,
festivals & holidays held
throughout the year in Japan.
Japanese Festivals & Annual Events
Children’s Day
Coming-of-Age Day
Cherry Blossom Watching
New Year
Festivals in your Country
What are the main festivals in Ireland?
St. Patrick’s Day
Easter
Halloween
Christmas
Some Japanese National Holidays &
Festivals
New Year’s Day: Gantan or OShogatsu
Coming-of-Age Day: Seijin No Hi
Valentine's Day & White Day
Girl’s Day: Hina Matsuri
Cherry Blossom Viewing: Hanami
Children’s Day: Kodomo no Hi
Shichi-Go-San
O-Shogatsu/New Year
O-Shogatsu is the most important
festival in the year.
Most places close from Dec 29Jan 3. Jan 1st is called Gantan.
Millions of people return to their
family homes for the celebrations.
People send each other postcards
known as Nengajou.
Houses are decorated with special
decorations, and food is prepared
& stored in lacquer boxes.
People visit Shrines to give thanks
for the year and to pray for a good
new year.
Children get money presents
known as O-toshidama.
Kadomatsu
Hatsumode
Seijin no Hi/Coming-of-Age Day
It is held on the second
Monday of January.
It is for people who turned
20 in the previous year.
The legal age to drink and
vote in Japan is 20.
Ceremonies are held at the
local government offices.
Girls dress in elaborate
kimono called furisode.
Boys wear traditional
kimono called hakama or
suits.
Everyone goes out to party
after the ceremonies.
Valentines Day & White Day
On Valentines Day, Feb
14th, women give men
(teachers, colleagues,
friends) chocolates in
Japan!
Chocolates given to men at
work are called Giri-Choco
(obligation chocolate).
Younger people have
adopted the Western
approach and often book
expensive meals and give
their boyfriend/girlfriend
presents.
White Day is held on March
14th.
It is the mans turn to give
women presents of white
chocolate, biscuits, jewellery,
and lingerie.
The white day present is
usually more expensive than
the Valentine’s present.
Hina Matsuri: Girl’s Day
Held on March 3rd, it is known
as Girl’s Day or Doll’s Festival.
Families with girls set up a
selection of dolls Hina-ningyou
on a red platform around midFebruary. The top 2 dolls are
the Emperor & Empress.
Special sweets, cakes, rice
crackers, and sushi are eaten,
and sweet sake is drunk.
Hanami: Cherry Blossom Viewing
Hanami means flower
watching but it occurs when
the Cherry Blossoms are in
bloom around late March to
early April.
People gather in parks under
trees or by river banks to have
picnics.
They often bring karaoke
machines & sing & dance until
late.
There is quite a bit of
competition to get the best
places under the most
beautiful trees.
Kodomo No Hi/Children’s Day
Held on May 5th, this is a
national holiday.
It was traditionally called
Boy’s Day.
Decorations include Koi
(carp) Streamers and
samurai helmets and dolls.
These symbolise strength,
success, and power.
Obon
Traditionally held in midJuly, though some areas
have Obon in August. It is
2nd biggest event after
New Year.
Most people return to
their family homes during
this time.
At Obon it is said that
spirits of dead ancestors
return to their homes.
People clean their
relative’s graves & light a
path to the house.
Summer Festivals
Hanabi/Fireworks
Taiko Drummers
Girls in Yukata
Yakisoba/Fried Noodles
A few more festivals…………
Shichi-Go-San
Shichi-go-san is a festival for
children of 7yrs(girls), 5yrs
(boys) and 3yrs (mainly girls).
Held on November 15th.
Children are dressed in
kimono and brought to a
Shrine to pray.
They receive Chitose Ame
literally "thousand year
candy", on Shichi-Go-San. It
is long, thin, red and white
and it symbolizes healthy
growth and longevity. It is
given in a bag with a crane
and a turtle on it, which
represent long life in Japan.