Travel in Japan: Labour Thanksgiving Day
Labor Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in Japan.
As a means of celebrating the work done throughout the year, Japan celebrates a Labor Thanksgiving Day every year on 23rd November.Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan is a national holiday.
History of Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan
Labor Thanksgiving Day celebrates not just the work done by oneself, but also serves as an opportunity to thank others for doing work on your behalf. The festival actually is a modern version of the ancient Rice Harvest Festival which has been celebrated for hundreds of years. The festival can be traced all the way back to the year 678, which is the earliest recorded instance of Niiname-Sai. Traditionally it would be the emperor who would dedicate some of the season’s new harvest to the Gods, while also being the first person to taste the newly harvested rice.
The date was fixed during the Meiji Era (around the turn of the 20th century). Ever since it has been celebrated on November 23rd. And while the public celebrates this day as a national holiday, the Emperor and his family still maintain the tradition – albeit behind closed doors!
Japan travel tip:
If you’re planning at trip to Japan, you might want to consider our international calendar which is the only one to include all Japan’s national, federal and public holidays. Actually, it includes holidays in over 200 countries which makes it invaluable for international travellers. Check out our international planner today!