ゴールデンウィーク Golden Week

　　　　　

みなさん、こんにちは！

今日４月２９日から日本ではゴールデンウィークが始まります。
ゴールデンウィークとは４月末～５月初めに祝日が続く週のことです。
週末や有給休暇と合わせると１週間～２週間のおやすみがとれます。

４月２９日　　昭和天皇の誕生日
５月　３日　　憲法記念日（憲法が施行された日）
５月　４日　　みどりの日（自然に親しみそして感謝する日）
５月　５日　　こどもの日（子供の幸せを願う日）

words & phrases -

ゴールデンウィーク：　Golden Week,
４月(がつ)末(まつ)：　the end of April
５月初(はじ)め：　early May
祝日(しゅくじつ)：　national holiday
続(つづ)く： successive
AはBのことです：　A is B, explain what A is B
週末(しゅうまつ)：　weekend
有給(ゆうきゅう)休暇(きゅうか)：　paid holiday
合(あ)わせる： put together
おやすみがとれる：　can take a leave
昭和(しょうわ)天皇(てんのう)：　Showa Emperor
誕生日(たんじょうび)：　birthday
憲法(けんぽう)記念日(きねんび)：　Constitution Memorial Day
: day for commemoration the enforcement of the Constitution and
　reaffirming hope in the growth of the nation.(on May.3rd, 1947.)
施行(せこう)：　enforcement
自然(しぜん)に親(した)しむ：　close contact with nature
感謝(かんしゃ)する：　appreciate
子供(こども)の幸(しあわ)せを願(ねが)う：　desire children’s happiness


Golden Week

The Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays within seven days. In combination with well placed weekends, the Golden Week becomes one of Japan's three busiest holiday seasons, besides New Year and the Obon week.
Trains, airports and sightseeing spots get very crowded during Golden Week, and accommodation in tourist areas can get booked out well in advance.

The national holidays making up the Golden Week are:

April 29 ：　Showa Day (Showa no hi)
April 29 is the birthday of former Emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989. Until 2006, Greenery Day (see May 4) used to be celebrated on this day.

May 3 ：　Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi)
On this day in 1947, the new post war constitution was put into effect.

May 4 ：　Greenery Day (Midori no hi)
Until 2006, Greenery Day used to be celebrated on April 29, the birthday of former Emperor Showa. The day is dedicated to the environment and nature, because the emperor loved plants and nature. Before being declared Greenery Day, May 4 used to be a national holiday due to a law, which declares a day, that falls between two national holidays, a national holiday.

May 5 ：　Children's Day (Kodomo no hi)
The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. The Girl's Festival, by the way, is celebrated on March 3.

Golden Week 2010

In 2010, the Golden Week will consist of an isolated public holiday (April 29) and a 5-day weekend (May 1-5). Travel activity is anticipated to peak on May 1 with people leaving the large urban centers and on May 5 in the opposite direction. Heavy traffic can also be expected on April 29 and May 4.

japan-guide.com