Coming of Age Day

Monday, January eighth, two thousands and seven

This morning I took my two children, a eight-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter, to a bawling alley in my city, because my wife wanted to make our eldest son concentrate on his study for the test carried out the day after tomorrow in his junior high school. After bowling, we were going to the public library in my city, but it was closed in spite of today isn't its regular holiday.
I realized the reason the library took a day off shortly. Actually, the library is next to a public community hall and it's Coming of Age Day(成人の日 seijin no hi) today in Japan, I mean, the ceremony of Coming of Age Day was being held in the hall, therefore the library had to take a day off because it was expected that so many young people and guests took part in the event. A number of young ladies wearing beautiful kimonos made my daughter's eyes sparkle, needless to say, as well as my eyes. :) I'll have to buy such a beautiful kimono for my daughter someday; the cost must be much expensive. My children eat us out of house and home!

Let me introduce the details of Coming of Age Day below:
Coming of Age Day honors young people who have reached the age of 20 as new members of society. This day used to be January 15th and was established as a national holiday after World War 2. Almost all local governments hold Coming of Age ceremonies to invite young people. Most young women attend the events wearing beautiful long-sleeved kimonos(振袖 furisode). In Japan, people who are more than 20 years old have the right to drink, vote, and smoke. Japanese government changed this holiday to the second Monday of January in 2000 so that as many young people as possible are able to attend these ceremonies and many Japanese citizens have a long weekend.

It is expected that: ～の見込みである、～と予想される
something make(s) one's eyes sparkle: ～が(人の)目を輝かせる
Someone(or Something) eat(s) someone out of house and home: ～が(人の)財産を食い潰す(このフレーズ、前にも覚えようとしたような気がする・・・)