[For Seniors] Introducing trivia related to May!
May is when the new routines have settled in, and the weather becomes comfortable, isn’t it? There are plenty of events too, like Children’s Day (Tango no Sekku) and Mother’s Day.
This time, we’ll introduce some trivia related to May.
You can also enjoy trivia as a quiz.
Gaining new knowledge helps stimulate brain activity.
In addition, knowing trivia topics can enliven conversation and facilitate smoother communication.
It can also help deepen bonds in conversations among older adults.
Please use this article as a reference!
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[For Seniors] Introducing Trivia Related to May! (11–20)
May 9 is known as Ice Cream Day.
When you think of ice cream, it feels like “summer,” but May 9 is actually Ice Cream Day.
The organization that established Ice Cream Day is the Japan Ice Cream Association.
It’s said to originate from a commemorative event held on May 9, 1964, back when the Japan Ice Cream Association was still called the Tokyo Ice Cream Association.
May still strongly feels like spring, but there are actually quite a few very hot days, aren’t there? On those days, why not treat yourself to some ice cream?
What kind of wishes are imbued in kashiwa-mochi?
Children’s Day, a holiday that wishes for children’s healthy growth, is perhaps the most representative holiday of May.
On this day, we express our celebratory feelings with various foods such as kashiwa mochi, chimaki, and chirashi-zushi.
These foods are not only seasonally appropriate, but also carry meanings connected to Children’s Day.
Even kashiwa mochi, the quintessential Children’s Day sweet, has a special significance.
Because oak trees and their leaves are said not to shed old leaves until new buds emerge, kashiwa mochi symbolizes meanings such as “unbroken family lineage” and “prosperity of descendants.”
Wood ear, which is in season in May, is not a jellyfish but a type of mushroom.
When you hear “kikurage,” you might think it’s a type of jellyfish from the sea, but it’s actually a kind of mushroom.
If you’ve eaten it, you’ll know: it’s dark in color and has a pleasantly crunchy texture.
It’s often found in Chinese-style rice bowls, and some older folks may remember wondering as children about the black kikurage mixed in with the vegetables.
The kind you usually see is black kikurage, but there’s actually a “white kikurage,” too.
It’s rare, so not many people may have tried it.
The birthstone for May is emerald.
Emerald, a gemstone with a strikingly beautiful green hue.
If your birthday is in May, you may already know this, but the birthstone for May is the emerald.
The exact reason why emerald became May’s birthstone isn’t clear, but since May is the season of fresh greenery, the green emerald is a perfect fit! Emerald is also known as one of the world’s four major gemstones, and its gemstone meanings include good fortune, happiness, love, and hope.
In the past, it was favored as a symbol of wealth and power.
Tea picked in early May is called “shincha” (new tea).
May is also the season when delicious shincha (new tea) appears on the market.
By the way, do you know which harvest period is called “shincha”? Tea picking begins on Hachijūhachiya, the 88th day after the first day of spring (Risshun), which is around the beginning of May.
It even appears in the lyrics of the children’s song “Chatsumi” (Tea Picking).
The tea leaves first picked during this time are called ichiban-cha, or shincha.
It has long been said that drinking shincha brings good health and longevity, so if you are an older adult who enjoys tea, why not give it a try?