Coming of Age Day (成人の日, Seijin no Hi) is a public holiday Japanese which takes place every year on the second Monday of January. It is intended to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached or will reach the age of maturity (20 years old) between April 2 of the previous year and April 1 of the current year. Festivities include coming-of-age ceremonies (成人式, seijin-shiki) held at local and prefectural offices, as well as after-parties among family and friends.
Seijin no Hi, Coming of Age
Coming of age ceremonies are celebrated at Japan since at least 714 CE, during the reign of Empress Genmei when a young prince donned new robes and a headdress to mark his passage into adulthood. The holiday was first established in 1948 and was to be observed annually on January 15. In 2000, following the Happy Monday system, Coming of Age Day was changed to the second Monday in January.
Many women celebrate this day by wearing furisode, a style of kimono with long, hanging sleeves, and zori sandals. Since most are unable to put on a kimono on their own due to the complexities involved, many choose to visit a beauty salon to get dressed and styled. A full set of formal wear is expensive, so it is usually either borrowed from a relative or rented rather than purchased specifically for the occasion.
Men sometimes also wear traditional clothing (e.g., a dark kimono with a hakama), but nowadays many men wear formal Western clothing such as a suit and tie more often than the traditional hakama. After the ceremony, young adults often celebrate in groups by going to parties or going out for drinks.
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Today, the Japanese celebrate Seijin no Hi. 20 year olds officially become Adults. Festivities include seijin-shiki ceremonies held in prefectures as well as parties hosted by families and friends. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #January #seijinnohi #seijinshiki
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