Reflecting on the Beginning of Autumn: September Holidays in Japan and Around the World: A Culture of Respect and Prayer

1. September in Japan: A Month of Respect and Appreciation for Nature

Respect for the Aged Day

English: Respect for the Aged Day
Date: September 15, 2025 (Monday, Happy Monday)
Introduction:
Respect for the Aged Day is a day to honor the elderly who have contributed to society over the years and celebrate their longevity. It is said that Respect for the Aged Day originated in Hyogo Prefecture in 1947, shortly after the end of World War II, and was established as a national holiday in 1966.
At home, events and gifts are held to express gratitude to grandparents, and local events related to the welfare of the elderly and volunteer activities are also observed. As Japan faces a super-aging society, this holiday is an important opportunity to reaffirm the bonds that transcend generations.

Autumnal Equinox Day

English: Autumnal Equinox Day
Date: September 23, 2025 (scheduled for Tuesday)
Introduction:
Autumnal Equinox Day, when night and day are almost equal in length, is a national holiday established to honor nature and cherish living things. It also coincides with the mid-day of equinoctial week, a day when people honor their ancestors and hold memorial services, so many families visit their graves.
The Japanese sense of the season, the Buddhist view of life and death, and the idea of coexistence with nature are deeply reflected in this holiday, and the keywords here are "silent gratitude" and "reverence for nature."

2. September Holidays Around the World: Countries Celebrating Ancestry, Freedom, and Culture

United States: Labor Day

Date: Monday, September 1, 2025
Introduction:
Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States. It is a holiday that honors the social and economic contributions of workers and is also known as the end of summer.
The day is often spent as a relaxed holiday with family barbecues and trips, as well as corporate sales and sporting events.

China, Korea, Vietnam: Mid-Autumn Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival/Zhongxiu/Osteoporosis/Tìt Trung Thu)

Date: Scheduled for September 6, 2025 (August 15 in lunar calendar)
Introduction:
Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional holiday in Asia that celebrates the full moon and the joy of the harvest.
•In China, it is a day for families to share moon cakes and to think of distant family members.
•On Chuseok in South Korea, people visit the graves of their ancestors and make offerings of new rice.
•In Vietnam, it is marked by a lantern procession and lion dance for children and overlaps with Children's Day.
Both holidays honor the moon, the cycle of nature, and gratitude to family and ancestors. They also resonate with the autumn equinox and equinoctial week in Japan.

3. Comparison chart: September holidays in Japan and around the world

4. Q & A: What is the September holiday and its connection to the world?

Q1. Why is Respect for the Aged Day in autumn?

This is because autumn is a season of harvest and the fruits of nature, and is often associated with positive images of maturity and aging. It is also an appropriate time to show respect for those who have lived in society for a long time.

Q2. Are the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Autumn Equinox similar?

Both are themed on the cycle of nature and family and ancestry. The celebration of a full moon and the equalization of day and night represents a worldview in which the rhythms of human life and the universe are linked.

Q3. Why are so many autumn holidays so quiet?

While spring and summer festivals are yang, autumn holidays tend to be yin, with quiet themes such as harvest, gratitude, and remembrance of the dead. This is also a traditional East Asian sensibility that closely follows the cycle of nature.

5. Next preview: October: A Month of Festivities and Culture

Autumn in Sports and the Arts: October Holidays in Japan and Around the World

October is a month when many events are held in Japan, leading up to Sports Day and Culture Day (November).
In this article, we will compare Japanese national holidays celebrating the autumn harvest with other national holidays held around the world for culture, the arts, and sports, focusing on holiday cultures that nurture the body and mind.