I Am So Happy For the Work Other People Do That Helps Support Me!

Labor Thanksgiving Day is held on November 23rd every year and celebrates the hard work done by people everyday whether it is paid or not. This holiday was established after World War 2, but it is strongly connected to a much older holiday known as Niinamesai. At this time the emperor would present an offering of freshly harvested rice to the gods (then eat it himself) as thanks for a bountiful harvest. It is thought that this custom is as old as rice cultivation itself. In the Meiji period this day of thanks was solidified on November 23rd. Later on the custom of giving thanks on this day was continued and updated for the modern era as Labor Thanksgiving Day. A day in which people are thankful for all the hard work others do.

The modern Labor Thanksgiving Day holiday is a government holiday, but businesses may still be open. People usually enjoy this holiday by spending time with their family. School children may make thank you cards for police and firemen. In general the weather is usually very nice and autumn foliage should be in full swing, so many people use go out and enjoy the day in parks or mountains. There is no feasting or parades, but people do celebrate this day in their own way.

References

In English

https://cotoacademy.com/labour-thanksgiving-day/

https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/japan/labour-thanksgiving-day

In Japanese

https://employment.en-japan.com/tenshoku-daijiten/14038/

https://jpnculture.net/kinroukansyanohi

Photo thanks to En-Japan.com.

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