noun
the four grand national holidays (1927-1948)
Historical term for four major Japanese national holidays observed from 1927 to 1948: 四方拝 (Shihōhai, Prayer to the Four Quarters on Jan 1), 紀元節 (Kigensetsu, Empire Day on Feb 11), 天長節 (Tenchōsetsu, the Emperor's Birthday on Apr 29), and 明治節 (Meijisetsu, Emperor Meiji's birthday on Nov 3). The term is now obsolete; these holidays were reorganized after WWII.
See also: 紀元節 · 四方拝 · 天長節 · 明治節
戦前、四大節には学校で式典が行われた。
Before the war, ceremonies were held at schools on the four grand national holidays.
四大節の一つである紀元節は、現在の建国記念の日にあたる。
Kigensetsu, one of the four grand national holidays, corresponds to today's National Foundation Day.
One of the four holidays; now replaced by 建国記念の日.
One of the four holidays; the Emperor's Birthday, now called 天皇誕生日.
One of the four holidays; Emperor Meiji's birthday, now 文化の日.
One of the four holidays; an imperial New Year's ceremony, no longer a public holiday.
Compound of 四 (four), 大 (great), and 節 (festival/holiday). The term was established in 1927 to designate four major national holidays and fell out of official use after the 1948 holiday law revision.