節句(せっく)

せっく
noun
seasonal festival; traditional holiday
culture
1. seasonal festival; traditional holiday
A traditional Japanese festival day marking seasonal transitions, originally derived from Chinese calendar customs. There are five major seasonal festivals throughout the year.
五月(ごがつ)の節句(せっく)を祝(いわ)う。
To celebrate the May seasonal festival.
桃(もも)の節句(せっく)に雛人形(ひなにんぎょう)を飾(かざ)る。
We display hina dolls for the Peach Festival.
日本(にほん)には五(いつ)つの節句(せっく)があり、それぞれに特別(とくべつ)な料理(りょうり)や飾(かざ)りがある。
There are five seasonal festivals in Japan, each with its own special foods and decorations.

Originally from Chinese customs marking seasonal turning points. The five major 節句(せっく) (五節句(ごせっく)) are:

  • 人日(じんじつ) (January 7) — Seven Herb Festival
  • 上巳(じょうし) (March 3) — 桃(もも)の節句(せっく) (Girls' Day / Doll Festival)
  • 端午(たんご) (May 5) — 端午(たんご)の節句(せっく) (Boys' Day / Children's Day)
  • 七夕(たなばた) (July 7) — Star Festival
  • 重陽(ちょうよう) (September 9) — Chrysanthemum Festival

Common collocations

  • 桃(もも)の節句(せっく): Peach Festival (Girls' Day, March 3)
  • 端午(たんご)の節句(せっく): Boys' Day (May 5)
  • 五節句(ごせっく): the five seasonal festivals
  • 節句(せっく)料理(りょうり): seasonal festival food
  • 節句(せっく)飾(かざ)り: seasonal festival decorations

Cultural note

The March and May festivals remain widely celebrated in modern Japan. Families with daughters display 雛人形(ひなにんぎょう) (hina dolls) in March, and families with sons display 鎧兜(よろいかぶと) (armor and helmets) or 鯉(こい)のぼり (carp streamers) in May.

general
Added 2026.5.6 1:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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