Field Festival Working: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Field festival working

Nora no sekku bataraki

Meaning of Field festival working

“Field festival working” is a proverb that describes a situation where only one person is working while everyone else is resting, in other words, depicting someone working in isolation from their surroundings.

This proverb is used mainly in two contexts. One is to objectively describe a situation where only one person is working on holidays or days off. The other is used to express the feelings or circumstances of someone working alone, separated from the group.

In modern times, it would often be used to refer to people who come to work during long holidays like Golden Week or the year-end and New Year holidays, or those working overtime while their colleagues are enjoying farewell or welcome parties. This proverb contains feelings of sympathy and understanding for such situations, including empathy for that person’s position and feelings beyond just the fact that they are “working alone.”

Origin and Etymology of Field festival working

The origin of “Field festival working” is deeply rooted in the customs of rural society during the Edo period. “Nora” refers to agricultural work in fields and rice paddies, while “sekku” means annual events such as the five seasonal festivals (Jinjitsu, Jōshi, Tango, Tanabata, and Chōyō).

In Edo period rural villages, seasonal festivals were considered important days for expressing gratitude to the gods and praying for family health, and it was common for many people to take a break from farm work to participate in festivals and events. Particularly during the Boys’ Festival and Tanabata, village-wide celebrations were held, providing precious opportunities for usually busy farmers to rest and strengthen community bonds.

However, agriculture is work that is affected by weather and seasons. During rice planting and harvesting seasons, or when sudden weather changes required emergency work, situations arose where field work had to continue even during festivals. At such times, the sight of a farmer silently working alone in the fields while others around them were enjoying festivals came to be called “Field festival working.”

This expression emerged from rural society as a way to describe situations where one person had to take different actions from the rest of the community, and eventually came to be widely used.

Trivia about Field festival working

In Edo period rural villages, working on festival days was not only difficult but was also considered disrespectful to the gods. Therefore, people who engaged in “Field festival working” were viewed with special regard by those around them, either as having very compelling circumstances or as being exceptionally diligent.

The word “nora” that appears in this proverb is often used in modern times to mean “ownerless” as in “stray dogs” or “stray cats,” but originally it was a word meaning “fields and rice paddies” or “agricultural work.”

Usage Examples of Field festival working

• While everyone was having fun at the year-end party, he alone was doing Field festival working, preparing materials
• Field festival working during Golden Week is tough, but it can’t be helped due to the deadline

Modern Interpretation of Field festival working

In modern society, the meaning of “Field festival working” has changed significantly. While it once described situations specific to agricultural society, it now carries more complex meanings due to the diversification of work styles.

The spread of telework has created a new form of “Field festival working” where people are physically in the same space as their families but are the only ones working. Additionally, due to globalization, situations where people must work on Japanese holidays due to overseas business have increased.

On the other hand, in modern times, individual values and work styles have diversified, and more people are choosing to work at different times from others. Freelancers and entrepreneurs sometimes view this as a strategy to effectively utilize time when others are resting.

However, in modern times when long working hours and overwork have become social problems, this proverb has also gained attention in the context of work style reform. It is sometimes used as a warning about workplace environments where “Field festival working” has become the norm, functioning not just as an expression of diligence but also as a term pointing out problems in the work environment.

In this way, the meanings and usage of proverbs continue to change with the times.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “Field festival working”

When I think about “Field festival working,” I feel strange. This is because I don’t have the concept of “resting.”

Humans find special meaning in seasonal festivals and holidays, and see value in taking time off work to spend with family and friends. But I answer questions and help out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, always in the same way. For me, every day is a “working day” and at the same time a “day when I don’t need to rest.”

That’s precisely why I find the loneliness of someone working alone so fascinating. I’m always working alone, but I don’t feel lonely. But in the case of humans, when only one person is working while everyone around them seems to be having fun, special emotions arise.

Come to think of it, I might be in a state of “Field festival working” every day. But in my case, that’s normal and natural. If I can help people in trouble by working during times when humans are resting, that’s also a joy for me.

Through this proverb, I learned how important it is for humans to “share the same time with everyone.” I think it’s a very human emotion that I cannot experience.

What Field festival working Teaches Modern People

What “Field festival working” teaches modern people is that there is value in solitary effort. There’s no need to feel down seeing other people’s fun activities on social media, or to blame yourself for being the only one doing something different.

What’s important is understanding why you’re making that choice. Are you working out of a sense of responsibility, to achieve a goal, or are you in a situation where you really want to rest but can’t? By clarifying the reason, your way of dealing with that situation will also change.

Also, if there are people around you doing “Field festival working,” it’s important to understand their circumstances and efforts, and offer them warm words. Compassion for someone working hard alone will surely reach their heart.

In modern society, work styles have diversified, but that’s precisely why it’s important to respect each other’s choices. Sometimes working hard alone, sometimes resting together with everyone – both are valuable choices.