There are two national holidays in September – 20th and 28th. I would like to tell you a little bit about them.

September 20th is called “Keironohi” (Respect the Aged Day). People honor their elderly citizens and wish them longevity. Families often give presents to their grandparents.

September 23rd is the autumn equinox day – “Shubun no hi”. It’s also called “Higan no chunichi”, and on this day, people pray for their ancestors wishing them peaceful afterlife. This holiday originated from “Shukikoreisai” where Japanese Emperor offered prayers to the previous emperors and empresses. It was also a public holiday.

I will talk more about many other national holidays the next time. See you then.