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 once you know this? Fun May trivia (31–40) that elementary school students should learn
Norway celebrates Mother’s Day earlier than any other country in the world.
In Japan, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May, but in some countries it’s celebrated at different times.
Among those with different dates, why not take a look at Norway, where Mother’s Day arrives earlier than anywhere else in the world? Norwegian Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday of February, and unlike Japan—where carnations are customary—there isn’t a tradition of giving a specific flower.
The idea is to express gratitude with gifts each person chooses themselves, which really conveys the sincerity and strength of their feelings.
The country where Mother’s Day originated is the United States.
Mother’s Day, which has taken root in Japan and spread around the world, feels like a global event, even if the timing and customs differ by country.
It’s said that this widely cherished day originated in the United States and then spread abroad.
In 1907, Anna Jarvis held a memorial service for her late mother and handed out white carnations—her mother’s favorite during her lifetime—to attendees; this event is considered the beginning of Mother’s Day.
Following this, President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day and made it a national holiday, from which it gradually spread worldwide.
May birthstone
The birthstone for May is the emerald.
You probably already know it as a beautiful green gemstone.
Let’s take a closer look at emeralds.
Their gemstone meanings are “happiness” and “good fortune,” and they are believed to have the power to inspire a sense of well-being.
They are also said to calm and steady the mind while enhancing concentration.
For this reason, Cleopatra is said to have favored wearing emeralds.
Indeed, just looking at one seems soothing to the soul.
What is “Rikka” (the beginning of summer)?
Risshun, the beginning of spring, and Risshū, the beginning of autumn, are commonly heard terms that mark the boundary between warmth and cold.
The same idea applies to the start of other seasons as well, and although you may hear it less often, Rikka—the beginning of summer—is certainly a recognized term.
It falls roughly halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, around May 5.
Since it is one of the twenty-four seasonal terms known as the sekki, learning about Rikka could be a good gateway to exploring the other terms as well.
Why are fava beans written as “空豆” (sky bean) or “蚕豆” (silkworm bean)?
Broad beans (sora-mame) are in season in early summer, and their vivid appearance and large kernels are part of their appeal.
When written only in kanji, sora-mame appears as “空豆” or “蚕豆.”
これらの漢字にはどのような意味が込められているのでしょうか。空豆（“sky bean”）は植物の生育のしかたに由来します。莢が空に向かって伸びるように上向きにつくのが特徴で、そのため「空」という字が当てられました。蚕豆（“silkworm bean”）は莢の見た目と食される季節に由来するといわれています。莢が蚕の繭に似ており、ちょうど蚕を飼う時期と旬が重なるため、「蚕」という字が使われつつ、読みは「そらまめ」のままです。同じ読みで紛らわしく感じられるかもしれませんが、それぞれの由来を知ることで、そら豆への理解がより深まります。
A phrase coined from the May 15 Incident
You may have heard the phrase “If we talk, we’ll understand each other.” Behind this phrase lies the May 15 Incident.
The May 15 Incident was a rebellion that occurred on May 15, a historic event in which Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai was assassinated by young naval officers who broke into the prime minister’s residence.
It is said that, in the midst of the incident, sensing his life was in danger, the prime minister uttered these words.
For more details about the incident, there are thorough explanations available online, so check them out if you’re interested.
What does “dontaku” in Hakata Dontaku mean?
Hakata Dontaku is a festival held on May 3rd and 4th in Fukuoka Prefecture, and it is said to have originated from an event called Matsubayashi.
The festival is so beloved by residents that it is also known as the “Festival of Fukuoka Citizens.” What meaning, then, is contained in the name “Dontaku”? It began to be called “Hakata Dontaku” after the festival resumed in 1879 (Meiji 12), and the word is said to derive from the Dutch “Zondag,” meaning “holiday.” The meaning itself is simple, but it conveys a strong desire for everyone to have fun together.
Origin of the Aoi Festival
Aoi Matsuri, one of Kyoto’s three major festivals, is held on May 15 and is renowned for its grand procession that departs from the Kyoto Imperial Palace and proceeds to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine.
Learning about the festival’s origins and background can deepen your appreciation for the season and the event itself.
Its beginnings date back to a time before the Heian period, when it was conducted to pacify the gods with the aim of averting poor harvests and epidemics.
Later, when the festival was revived in the Edo period, hollyhock leaves—futaba-aoi, the crest of the Kamo Shrines—began to be used as decorations.
It is said that this is how the name “Aoi Matsuri” became established.
The origin of ‘noisy’ (literally ‘May flies’)
When you write “urusai” in kanji, it’s written as 「五月蠅い」.
Don’t you wonder why such characters are used? The term was coined long ago: during the rainy season, flies would appear and make a racket, so these characters were applied.
Nowadays we don’t associate May with flies, but in the old lunar calendar, the rainy season fell in the fifth month (May), which is the origin of the term.
By the way, it can also be written as 「煩い」, which has exactly the same meaning as 「五月蠅い」.
Remember whichever is easier for you to write.
In conclusion
This time, we introduced trivia and fun facts related to May. Things we see every year as a matter of course and words we hear all the time may feel more familiar once you know their meanings and reasons. Be sure to liven up your conversations with family and friends using the new trivia you’ve learned.