Greenery Day
A day to commune with nature and be thankful for its blessings
Midori no Hi (Greenery Day) is a national holiday celebrated on May 4th. Its purpose is "to commune with nature, be thankful for its blessings, and nurture a rich heart."
History of May 4th
Originally, May 4th was not a public holiday. However, because it fell between Constitution Memorial Day (May 3) and Children's Day (May 5), an amendment in 1985 made any weekday sandwiched between two national holidays a "National Holiday" (Kokumin no Kyujitsu) to create a continuous Golden Week.
In 2007, when April 29th was renamed from Greenery Day to Showa Day, the title and spirit of "Greenery Day" were shifted to May 4th, elevating it to an independent holiday.
Activities
In the spirit of the holiday, many national parks, zoos, and botanical gardens offer free admission on this day. It is a time for people to enjoy the fresh spring foliage and participate in environmental awareness events.