Festivals & Ceremonies

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I recently found in an old book the following words :
"It has been said that under the old conditions of society in Japan there was a festival for every day in the year. This is easy to believe, for the Japanese were a pleasure-seeking, beauty-loving people, and the ever-recurring seasons when favorite blossoms were in bloom were made the excuse for various festivities; and an intense patriotism caused the birthday or other anniversary of each emperor and hero to be chosen as a time for celebration."
It is indeed true that we find celebrations during almost the whole year. Please find hereafter a selection of the principal celebrations and festivities. One will notice that a lot of festivals are held on the odd days of the odd months of the year (3 March, 5 May, 7 July...). This comes from an old believe that these days and months personify the male principle in nature, and therefor are to be considered as propitious.

January

Date

Festival

Symbolism

1-3

The New Year festival (Ganjitsu): In old times, on the eve of New Year a straw rope (shime nawa) was drawn around the house to prevent evil spirits to come inside. To this rope were attached some familiar New Year objects of symbolic import : the lobster, the orange, fern leaves, seeweed, and gohei. Today an orange is still placed in the alcove and the entrances of houses are decorated with a pair of small pine trees (representing the male and female principle and referred to as kado-matsu) or three bamboo stems and rice cakes (mochi) with fern leaves. During the first three days of the New Year (San-ga-nichi) a lot of presents are exchanged. On the streets one can see the shishi mai or Lion's dance. And people make their first visit to the temple or shrine. Visits to friends and family to exchange greeting are a custom as well

10

Festival of Ebisu (for more information on Ebisu, we refer to our glossary); especially popular at Osaka city - Naniwa merchant district -

sea bream (tai) - see glossary section symbolism -
bamboo branches

15

Snow festival

February

Date

Festival

Symbolism

3

Setsubun - the first days of spring - festival, is a bean trowing festival. Beans are trown around the house to frighten away the evil spirits (oni - see glossary)

11

Kenkoku-kinenbi or National Foundation Day. The first emperor Jimmu established the capital in Yamato.

25

Plum blossom festival. Very popular at Kyoto : a tea ceremony is held under the blossoming plum trees.

March

Date

Festival

Symbolism

3

Girl's day festival (Hina doll festival), referred to as Hina Matsuri, is celebrated on the third day of the third month. Beautiful dressed dolls -mostly representing emperor and empress - are given as presents. This day is a celebration of the girl's healthy growth. The cherry tree and the peach blossom are symbolic as well during this celebration.

peach blossom, Hina dolls.

April

Date

Festival

Symbolism

8

Birth of Buddha (Tanjo-no-shaka). Images of infant Buddha are set up in the temples

infant Buddha

April

Hana Matsuri - flower festivals. The cherry blossom festival is the most celebrated. The subject of flower viewing (hanami) is an important event.

May

Date

Festival

Symbolism

5

Kodomo no hi (Children's day), better known as Boy's day festival (tango-no-sekku), is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month. The carp is symbolic on this special occasion for it is symbol of perceverance. Warrior dolls are set up as well for this occasion. In old times the boys were dressed with miniature suits of armor. The iris (ayame)is the flower dedicated to this festival.

It is one of the golden week festivals.

around 15

Kanda & Sanja Matsuri, big parades in Tokyo with portable shrines.

June

Date

Festival

Symbolism

1st sunday

Hiroshima - Rice planting festival (mibu no hana)

10

Sanno matsuri - one of the big parades in Tokyo

July

Date

Festival

Symbolism

7

Tanabata-no-setsu, the star festival, is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month. The origin of this festvial is Chinese. People write wishes on long narrow strips of paper which are attached to bamboo branches.

paper strips on bamboo branches

13-16

Bon matsuri - The festival of Bon, the Buddhist All Souls', referred to as the feast of the lanterns. The spirits of the deads are believed to visit their former homes.

paper lanterns (at the end of the festival)

17

Gion matsuri in Kyoto.This big festival is celebrated to drive away the evil spirits of disease.

August

Date

Festival

Symbolism

16

Toro Nagashi (see July) - Floating lantern festival (in some districts held in August)

paper lanterns

September

Date

Festival

Symbolism

9

Kiku no sekku, Chrysanthemum festival

15

Keiro no hi - "respect for the aged"-day

October

Date

Festival

Symbolism

9

Choyo no setsu, the Festival of Hapiness, in honor of the blooming chrysanthemum (Imperial flower)

Chrysanthemums

22

Great fire festival at mount Kurama

November

Date

Festival

Symbolism

2-4

Karatsu kunchi, an autumn festival with a parade of large lacquered floats representing helmets, dragons, lions...(Saga prefecture)

15

Shichi-go-han, Festival for children of 7-5-3 years old

December

Date

Festival

Symbolism

2-4

Saitama Chichibu yo matsuri. The Night festival. Popular for its firework.

31

New Year's Eve