Recommended in March! A collection of surprising, little-known trivia that elementary school students will want to share
What comes to mind when you think of March? There are so many events unique to this season, like graduation ceremonies, the Doll’s Festival, and the song of the bush warbler announcing the arrival of spring.
In fact, March has many beautiful alternative names besides Yayoi, such as Sakura-zuki and Hanami-zuki, and there are lots of fun tidbits you’ll want to share—like how the flavor of hina-arare differs between the Kanto and Kansai regions! In this article, we’ll introduce March trivia and topics that even elementary school students can enjoy.
Share them with family and friends, and you might just become a little trivia expert!
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Recommended in March! A collection of surprisingly little-known trivia that elementary school kids will want to share (1–10)
White Day originated in Japan.
White Day is the day when you return the favor for the chocolates you received on Valentine’s Day, right? As White Day approaches, you may often see store shelves filled with all kinds of sweets.
Did you know that White Day is actually a uniquely Japanese tradition? It’s said that a long-established Japanese confectioner sold a sweet made by wrapping yellow bean paste in marshmallow and coating it with chocolate.
They marketed it as a return gift for Valentine’s Day, and the whiteness of the marshmallow inspired the name “White Day.” Since the day designated as White Day is March 14, it has also been registered with the Japan Anniversary Association.
March 13 is Shinsengumi Day.
There are probably some elementary school students who love history and are interested in the Shinsengumi.
After the Edo shogunate ended, Japan went through a period of major change, including the Boshin War and the Hakodate War.
During that time, the Shinsengumi, led by their captain Kondō Isami, were active.
March 13 has been designated Shinsengumi Day.
It is said to originate from the fact that Serizawa Kamo and Kondō Isami in Kyoto called themselves the Mibu Rōshi, the predecessor of the Shinsengumi.
There is also a Shinsengumi anniversary in February, so why not take the opportunity to learn while engaging with the history of that era?
You must not give Hina dolls to someone else.
In March, we display Hina dolls for the Doll Festival, but why do we do so? Originally, Hina dolls, shaped like human figures, were believed to absorb impurities and ward off misfortune.
Today, they embody wishes for baby girls to grow up healthy, free from illness and injury.
Like a protective charm, it’s customary to prepare a set of Hina dolls for each individual.
It’s also said you should avoid keeping the dolls stored away in a closet without displaying them.
March 3rd is one of Japan’s long-cherished traditional events.
Displaying Hina dolls serves as a form of purification, so please do put them on display.
Recommended in March! A collection of surprisingly little-known trivia you’ll want to share with elementary school kids (11–20)
The flavor of hina-arare differs between Kanto and Kansai.
Some households may display Hina dolls for the Peach Festival.
Did you know there’s a difference between the Hina-arare rice crackers that accompany the dolls in the Kanto and Kansai regions? In both areas, three- or four-colored varieties are common, but their shapes and flavors differ.
Kanto-style Hina-arare are sweet and about the size of a grain of rice, while Kansai-style Hina-arare are larger, round, and salty.
Kansai versions also come in many variations, sometimes mixed with shrimp or green laver (aosa).
There are various theories as to why the two styles differ, including the idea that they spread for different reasons in Kanto and Kansai.
It could be fun to open a map of Japan and explore where the taste of Hina-arare starts to change.
Cherry leaves contain toxins.
In spring, cherry blossoms in full bloom are so beautiful, aren’t they? Just gazing at them can make you feel as if your heart is being cleansed.
Many elementary schools have cherry trees in their schoolyards, don’t they? But did you know that cherry leaves contain a toxin? You might wonder, “They’re in sakuramochi and cherry-flavored sweets—is that safe?” In fact, cherry leaves contain a toxic compound called coumarin.
In small amounts it doesn’t harm the body, so it’s fine to eat them together with sakuramochi and the like.
During the hazakura period, when the leaves are out and fall to the ground, they make it harder for other plants to grow.
It’s said that cherry trees have the effect of preventing weeds from growing around them.
In addition to Yayoi, March is also called Kagetsu and Sakura-zuki.
When March comes around, there tend to be more days when you feel warmth rather than cold, don’t you think? It’s well known that March is also called Yayoi, and many of you may know this since it’s sometimes written on calendars.
However, besides Yayoi, it can also be called Hanamidzuki or Sakurazuki.
Although March is often associated with peach blossoms, there’s a reason expressions featuring cherry blossoms are used.
In the past, Japan used the old lunar calendar to determine months by the phases of the moon.
The third month in the old calendar corresponds to around April today, which is why names including “sakura” came into use.
There are also names like Kagetsu and Hanasakizuki.
Why not take this article as a cue to look into the names of all twelve months?
Kiwi is a fruit that’s in season in March. In Australia, it’s common to eat kiwifruit with the skin on.NEW!
In March, delicious kiwifruit appears in supermarkets and greengrocers.
It’s a sweet-and-tart fruit packed with vitamin C.
In Japan, people often peel it and eat only the flesh, but in Australia it’s actually common to eat it with the skin on.
The skin is full of nutrients and dietary fiber, so eating it whole is great for your body.
Just be sure to wash it well first.
The kiwi’s skin feels a bit rough, but when you eat it together with the sweet flesh, it’s a new flavor discovery.
Kiwifruit is perfect for spring—you can enjoy both health and great taste.
