Doyo Ushi-no-Hi （土用丑の日）
The first days of spring, summer, fall, and winter were called
risshun（立春）, rikka（立夏）, risshu（立秋）, and ritto（立冬） when the lunar calendar was used.
Doyo（土用） refers to the eighteen-day periods before these four days.
Among these four days,
Doyo of summer, which is the hottest time of the year, is the most famous.
It is very hot and humid in this season in Japan,
and many people, even dogs, tend to lose their appetite and feel poorly.
Since ancient times,
eel , which is very nutritious in fact, has been thought to provide stamina.
In order to prevent summer heat fatigue and survive the hottest season,
Japanese have a custom of eating eel on a special day during the Doyo period.
This special day is called " Doyo Ushi-no-Hi (土用丑の日） ".
Today, July 21st, is Doyo Ushi-no-Hi for the year 2011.
Many people have eel dish such as charcoal grilled eel and grilled eel bowl today.
Why don't you eat eel dish for dinner tonight ?
