Will you like May even more once you know? Fun May trivia elementary schoolers should know
May is when we start getting used to our new classes.With hay fever settling down, it’s the season when playing outside becomes more fun.May has many events closely related to elementary school students, such as Children’s Day and Mother’s Day, but did you know there are also all kinds of trivia beyond that?Even if words come up in classes like Japanese or English, there may not be many elementary school students who know their origins.This time, we’ll introduce trivia about words you’ve likely heard related to May, as well as about seasonal events!
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Will you like May even more if you know this? Trivia about May that elementary school students should know (11–20)
Origin of the lunar calendar’s “Satsuki” (the fifth month) in May
In traditional Japanese month names, May is written as “Satsuki.” This term reflects the Japanese people’s connection with rice paddies.
One theory says that “satsu” refers to rice offered to the god of the fields or even the deity itself; another holds that it is an abbreviation of “sanae-zuki,” the month of young rice seedlings.
“Sanae” are rice seedlings that have grown to the ideal size for transplanting, and the word indicates the season when rice planting begins.
The fact that even a month name conveys a wish for successful planting shows just how important rice has been in Japan.
What was May 4th, Greenery Day, originally celebrated as?
May 4 is Greenery Day, right? However, before 2007 it was commonly known as Shōwa Day.
The background here is a bit complicated, so let’s go through it step by step.
Originally, April 29 was designated as Greenery Day and May 4 as Shōwa Day.
In 2007, though, the Act on National Holidays was revised as part of an effort to improve the fragmented holiday schedule.
Since then, under the rule that a weekday sandwiched between national holidays becomes a holiday, Golden Week has taken on its current form.
The reason for eating chimaki on May 5
The custom of eating chimaki on Children’s Day is connected to a figure named Qu Yuan.
Qu Yuan was an ancient Chinese poet who threw himself into a river on May 5.
Grieving his death, people tried to cast offerings into the river, but they worried that evil forces might snatch them away.
To ward off those evils, they wrapped the offerings in protective leaves.
Over time, eating chimaki became established as a tradition symbolizing children’s healthy growth and serving as a talisman against misfortune.
Which industry coined the term “Golden Week”?
Do you know the origin of Golden Week? It began in 1948, when national holidays were established and a long holiday period was created.
At the time, movies were the main form of entertainment, and many people went to the cinema.
Film companies that recorded huge sales named the long holiday “Ogon Shukan (Golden Week),” which later came to be called “Golden Week.” So it originally started as a term from the film industry.
By the way, since “Golden Week” is a Japanese-made English term and a uniquely Japanese cultural concept, be aware that it may not be understood outside Japan.
When and where did Mother’s Day begin?
One of the hallmark events of May is Mother’s Day.
Do you know when and where this custom began? It started in 1907, when an American woman named Anna Jarvis offered carnations in memory of her mother.
From there, it became established as a day to express gratitude to mothers, and the custom of giving carnations took root.
Incidentally, it was introduced to Japan in 1931, and at first March 6 was observed as Mother’s Day.
So it turns out there’s a poignant story behind Mother’s Day.
What does taking a shobu-yu (iris bath) mean?
What kind of meaning does shobu (sweet flag/iris) seen during the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku) have? People take baths with it and soak it in drinks, right? Its history is old; it’s said to have begun in ancient China, where shobu was used to ward off evil.
Over time, bathing with it—known as shobu-yu—became established.
By the way, shobu-yu is also expected to help with lower back pain and promote blood circulation, so it’s recommended not only for children but also for adults.
Reasons why many sports festivals are held in May
More and more schools are holding their sports days in May.
It used to be strongly associated with September or October.
However, May has been chosen because September is hot and October tends to have many typhoons.
In addition, the weather is relatively stable, and another reason is that April—the month when students practice—is cool.
It’s been carefully considered from various angles.
If you remember that “May has stable weather and is comfortable,” it could be helpful when planning trips or events.
What is Hachijūhachiya, which arrives at the beginning of May?
Around the beginning of May, there’s a day called Hachijūhachi-ya on either the 1st or 2nd.
This is the day that falls exactly 88 days after Risshun (the beginning of spring), and in fact it’s a seasonal marker unique to Japan.
In modern times, because it coincides with the period when late frosts can occur, the phrase “the farewell frost of Hachijūhachi-ya” has come into use.
Furthermore, since some regions can still suffer significant damage from late frosts up until around mid-May, there is also the expression “the weeping frost of the ninety-ninth night.” Incidentally, three days after Hachijūhachi-ya comes Rikka, the beginning of summer.
The origin of the English name for May, “MAY”
The English name for May originates from “Maia.” It’s pronounced “Maia.” In Greek and Roman mythology, Maia is a goddess of fertility, and it was customary to offer thanks and make offerings to her on May 1.
From this tradition, the month itself came to be called “May.” Additionally, May 1, known as “May Day,” is famous worldwide as a day of festivities for workers.
If you’re interested, it might be worth looking into anecdotes about Maia.
The person who served as the model for “Kintarō,” which is displayed during the Boys’ Festival (Tango no Sekku)
We display Kintarō dolls for the Boys’ Festival on May 5, don’t we? Kintarō is a character from old Japanese folktales, known as a strong boy who could even defeat a bear in sumo wrestling.
Although Kintarō’s superhuman strength sounds unrealistic, he actually has a real-life model.
That model is Sakata Kintoki, a warrior active in the Heian period.
He is said to have served Minamoto no Yorimitsu and to have defeated the demon Shuten Dōji, among other exploits.
There is a shrine in Shizuoka Prefecture that enshrines him, so if you’re nearby, why not pay it a visit?