Pre-reading questions:
- Do you usually travel during the Golden Week?
- Do you like rice cakes?
Vocabulary:
- national /NASH-uh-nl/
- traditional /truh-DISH-uh-nl/
- decoration /dek-uh-REY-shuhn/
- special /SPESH-uhl/
- wish /wish/
[adjective] – relating to or typical of a whole country and its people, rather than to part of that country or to other countries
The Philippine eagle is the national bird of the Philippines.
[adjective] – based on a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time
Mrs. Sonia always wears a traditional dress.
[noun] – something added to an object or place to make it look more attractive
I will buy colored papers for the Valentine’s Day decorations.
[adjective] – not ordinary or usual
Dana gave her pet a special name.
[noun] – a feeling of wanting something
Franco’s wish for his birthday is to visit Disneyland.
Article reading:
May is a busy month in Japan. It begins with the Golden Week holiday which includes the Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpou Kinenbi) on May 3, Greenery Day (Midori no Hi) on May 4, and lastly, Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) on May 5. Let’s learn more about the unique activities done in the spirit of Kodomo no Hi.
Children’s Day in Japan was originally called Tango-no Sekku, a celebration for boys. In 1948, the government declared this day to be a national holiday to celebrate the health and happiness of all children, and it was renamed “Kodomo-no Hi.” As part of the event, people display traditional decorations called kabuto (samurai helmets) and gogatsu-ningyo (samurai dolls) in their homes. Families with boys raise or fly carp-shaped flags called “koinobori.” Children’s Day would not be complete without traditional sweets. People enjoy kashiwa mochi (a rice cake with sweet bean paste) and chimaki (a sweet rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves).
The fifth day of the fifth month is indeed a special day for children in Japan. It is the final day of the Golden Week and a time to express wishes for a child’s future.
True or False:
- In 1938, the government declared Kodomo no Hi to be a national holiday to celebrate the health and happiness of all children.
- As part of the event, people display traditional decorations called kabuto and gogatsu-ningyo.
- Families with boys raise or fly cat-shaped flags called “koinobori.”
- Kashiwa mochi and chimaki are traditional sweets.
- Children’s Day is the third day of the Golden Week.
Fill in the blanks:
national | traditional | decoration | special | wish |
- The grandfather’s _____ is for his grandson to run the family’s business.
- He gave me a calendar with all the _______ holidays.
- My grandmother taught me how to cook _______ dishes.
- It’s time to put up the Christmas ________.
- The restaurant will offer a _____ menu next week.