Christmas in July of July (Canada Day on July 1 in Canada and American Independence Day on July 4 in the United States) and Labor/Labour Day (the first Monday in September for both the US and Canada), leaving a stretch of about two months with no holidays (some Canadian provinces hold a Civic Holiday, but neither Canada nor the United States has ever recognized a national holiday during that month). The late July period provides relatively few opportunities for merchandising, since it is typically after the peak of summer product sales in June and early July, but before the "back to school" shopping
Labor Thanksgiving Day is still held privately by the Imperial House of Japan on the same day as Labor Thanksgiving Day, which has become a public national holiday. May 1 is also celebrated as Labor Day by many trade unions in Japan, which hold large rallies and marches in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Labor Thanksgiving Day Events are held throughout Japan, one such being the Nagano Labor Festival. The event encourages thinking about the environment, peace and human rights. Early-grade elementary students often create drawings for the holiday and give them as gifts to local kōbans (neighborhood police stations). Labor Thanksgiving Day is