Will you like May even more once you know? Fun May trivia elementary schoolers should know

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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。

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