Upcoming Holidays: Golden Week, Children's Day, and Labor Day

Many of our students can look forward to a holiday in the next few days. So whether your next student hails from Japan or South Korea, Taiwan or Thailand, you’ll have plenty to talk about! 

To give you some ideas, we’ve provided some basic information about these holidays as well as some vocabulary (bolded) that’ll help students tell you all about them.

Golden Week in Japan ☀️

First up is “Golden Week,” one of the biggest holidays in Japan. Golden Week, or “GW” for short, is like the country’s “spring break.” Compared to other big holidays (i.e. New Year and Obon) which are more traditional and family-oriented, GW is a lot more focused on fun and travel.

• How many days off do you get for Golden Week this year? Are you planning to take any extra time off?
• What are your plans for Golden Week? 
• What’s your favorite Golden Week memory?
• Where have you travelled during past Golden Weeks? (Related: “4 Things to Do During Japan's 'Golden Week'”)

However, like many other aspects of our lives, GW will be affected by COVID-19 and its limitations on travel. (Related: “Okinawa Asks Tourists to Stay Home During Golden Week”) 

One part of Golden Week that will be less affected is “Children’s Day.” GW is actually made of four different holidays, with Children’s Day on May 5th getting the most attention. 

The holiday dates back to ancient times and comes with rich traditions. For example, fish-shaped flags are hung up in public places and outside homes. These are known as carp banners or carp streamers.

• I heard that Children’s Day is coming up. What do people do on that day? Do children get presents?
• Why do people hang up carp streamers? What do carp have to do with children? And do the different colors represent anything?
• What memories of Children’s Day do you have from when you were a kid?

Children’s Day in Korea 🧸

Like Japan, South Korea also celebrates Children’s Day on May 5th. The day was established around a century ago to raise awareness about children’s issues, when neglect and mistreatment of children were more common.

Now that children lead much happier lives, the day has become an occasion for celebration. Zoos, movie theatres, and amusement parks offer free entry to kids. Cities also host festivals and writing contests.

• How was Children’s Day celebrated when you were a child? Is it different from how it’s celebrated today?
• Do children in Korea enjoy participating in writing contests? Why do you think writing contests are held on Children’s Day?
• What are some memories you have of Children’s Day?

What makes celebrations even more special are performances of music, dance, and Korean martial arts. Here’s an example:

Modern-day Korean parents are normally busy with work, so Children’s Day is also an opportunity for them to spend some quality time with their kids. Many dress their kids up in traditional clothing and buy them presents.

• I heard that some kids dress up in traditional clothing for Children’s Day. Can you show me some pictures? 
• Do older children and teenagers also wear traditional clothing? Or just younger kids?
• When was the last time you wore traditional clothing?

Three days after Children's Day, South Koreans celebrate Parent’s Day, the country’s version of Mother’s and Father’s Day. However, this is not a public holiday. 

• Do you think it’s fair that Children’s Day is a public holiday, but Parent’s Day is not? Why? Why not?
• What do you think about the fact that Mother’s and Father’s Day are combined in Korea?

Labor Day in Taiwan & Thailand ✊

May 1st is Labor Day in many countries around the world. In Taiwan and Thailand, Labor Day is a day off for people who work in the private sector. (Civil servants, unfortunately, need to keep working.) 

• What are your plans for Labor Day? Do people do anything special to celebrate Labor Day?
• What do you think about the fact that civil servants don’t get the day off?
• This year, Labor Day falls on a Saturday. Do people get another day off to make up for the lost holiday?

👋 That’s It For Now!

We hope this blog post will serve you well, whether you want to make small-talk with students or have a full-blown conversation discussing these holidays! Happy tutoring!