Respect for the Aged Day (Japan)

Respect for the Aged Day is a Japanese national holiday observed on the third Monday of September to honor elderly people for their long years of contribution to society and celebrate their longevity. Its origin is traced to Toshiyori no Hi, a local observance started in 1947 in the village of Nomadani in Hyogo Prefecture, now part of the town of Taka. It became a national holiday on September 15th in 1966 and moved to the third Monday of September in 2003 under the Happy Monday system. Families mark the day with gifts for grandparents and celebratory meals together.