Because May 4 falls between two holidays, this day, too, was designated a national holiday. Some companies give employees a day off on May 1, which is May Day. The term gradually began being used by other people to refer to this string of holidays. M any big factories close down for a week or even 10 days because it's inefficient to keep shutting them down and starting them back up when holidays and weekends are clustered together. Although offices tend to be open on days that are not holidays, many workers use their paid vacations to take an extended break from the daily routine.
Many people thus travel to resort areas.
In recent years, increasing numbers have been traveling to foreign destinations with their families.