When should I go for the summer vacation and winter vacation in Japan?

Ocean Day is scheduled for the third Monday in July, with the theme of "Pray for the prosperity of Japan, a maritime country, and thank the sea for its kindness to us" (thank the sea, thank Japan, thank Japan, a maritime country). On this day, people will go to the seaside to play, and many places will set off fireworks (fireworks) at the seaside to celebrate. Before 2002, it was scheduled for July 20, and in 2003, it was changed to the third Monday in July.

Respecting the elderly is scheduled for the third Monday in September, and its main purpose is to "love those elderly people who have contributed to social development for many years and pray for their longevity" (for many years, society). On this day, there is the custom of sending flowers, snacks and drinks. Before 2002, this festival was scheduled for September 15, and in 2003 it was changed to the third Monday in September.

Some people may think of the Double Ninth Festival when they see the Day of Respecting the Elderly. Japan does have the Double Ninth Festival, but it's a pity that it's not a festival to respect the elderly. In China, the Double Ninth Festival is on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, but in Japan, it is designated as the ninth day of the solar calendar. This day is not a legal holiday, so the number of participants is naturally much less, but many places still maintain the custom of enjoying chrysanthemums and making haiku. Some people even call it the Chrysanthemum Festival.

Perhaps the previous topic is not so obvious, but from the "third Monday" of the above two festivals, we can see how the Japanese government treats festivals. In China, which coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, National Day and other legal holidays, we all use the method of "moving" to move the weekend close to it around the festival day, making it a small holiday or golden week; Japan, on the other hand, directly moved the originally scheduled holiday to the Monday after the weekend, so that they naturally became a small holiday. This practice is called Happy Monday(ハッピーマンデー system).

24 and 25 July

Tianman Palace, Osaka (Address: 2- 1-8, Tianjin Bridge, Shibei District, Osaka)

Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Tenjin Matsuri has a history of 1000 years. It is one of the "three major Japanese festivals" and the largest water celebration in the world. It is a festival held in Tianman Palace in summer to worship Sugawara no michizane (845-903), the god of knowledge and art. During the festival, traditional Japanese art performances are held all over the city, such as divine music (music played when offering sacrifices to gods) and literary music (puppet show), and the streets of Osaka are full of festive atmosphere.

The highlight of the event was that 3,000 people were dressed in Nara Heian costumes (8? 12nd century) People dressed in royal robes slowly marched along with the sacred sedan chair, and the above-mentioned people set off from Tianman Bridge in a boat about 100.

In the evening, the boat is reflected on the river under the illumination of a bonfire (lighting the surrounding fire when guarding or fishing), which has an indescribable beauty. On the viewing platform on both sides of the river, citizens and tourists enjoy the cool while applauding "Fireworks provided by Tenjin Matsuri (meaning fireworks provided by Tenjin Matsuri)".

In addition, the Osaka Festival (meaning Osaka Knot) held when the marchers returned to Tianman Palace is also worth seeing. Rhythmic beating of hands and honking of horns make people feel different from the "romantic chic" in Osaka, Tokyo in the Edo era (the life concept advocated by machimachi people (that is, craftsmen and businessmen living in cities)). For example, elegance without losing amorous feelings is called "romantic chic"). If you want to know about Osaka, there is no better celebration than attending Tenjin Matsuri.