Japanese Festivals

In keeping with its eclectic mix of ancient and modern, Japan celebrates numerous traditional festivals throughout the year. Many of these are local to a particular town, shrine or temple, while some are celebrated nationally. It is commonly said that you will always find a festival somewhere in Japan.

Many Japanese festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but most have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date.

Coming of Age Day (Seijin shiki)

Seijin shiki is the coming-of-age ceremony. It is held annually on Coming-of-Age Day, the second Monday in January.

The age of majority in Japan is 20. Seijin shiki covers all those who will reach this age during the current school year, which runs between April and the following March. The ceremony is generally held in the morning at local city offices and all young adults who maintain residency in the area are invited to attend. Government officials give speeches, and small presents are handed out to the new adults.

Many women celebrate this day by wearing furisode, a special kind of kimono. Many choose to visit a beauty salon to dress and to set their hair. While men sometimes also wear traditional dress (dark kimono or hakama), most men now wear business suits instead.

Girls in kimonos celebrating coming of age

After the ceremony, the young adults often gather in groups and go to parties or go out drinking. Young women not used to wearing the zori slippers can often be seen limping as the afternoon wears on and evening approaches. Later in the evening, it is not unusual to see wobbly young adults staggering in the trains, heading happily home after a day of celebration.

Setsubun

Setsubun is the day before the beginning of each season. Usually the term refers to the Spring Setsubun, celebrated yearly on February 3rd (associated with the Lunar New Year). Spring Setsubun is traditionally celebrated by the head of the household throwing pan-heated soybeans out the door, while chanting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!", meaning "Demons out! Luck in!"

Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri)

This holiday (March 3rd) is also known as the Peach Festival because peach blossoms herald the coming of spring and are the symbol of courage and feminine beauty. Young girls put on their kimonos and visit the homes of their friends. Tiered platforms for hina ningyo (hina dolls; a set of dolls representing theemperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake).

Star Festival (Tanabata)

Tanabata originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars - the Weaver Star (Vega) and the Cowherd Star (Altair) - who were said to be lovers who could meet only once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month (July 7th) provided it didn't rain and flood the Milky Way. It was named Tanabata after a weaving maiden from a Japanese legend who was believed to make clothes for the gods. People often write wishes and romantic aspirations on long, narrow strips of coloured paper and hang them on bamboo branches along with other small ornaments.

Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi)

Also known as the Iris Festival. The tall-stemmed Japanese iris is a symbolic flower. Its long, narrow leaves resemble the sharp blades of a sword, and for many centuries it has been the custom to place iris leaves in a boy's bath to give him a martial spirit. Originally May 5th was a festival for boys corresponding to the Doll Festival, for girls, but in 1948 it was renamed Children's Day and made a national holiday. However, this might be a misnomer; the symbols of courage and strength mainly honor boys. It is customary on this day for families with male children to fly koinobori (carp streamers, a symbol of success) outside the house, display warrior dolls (musha ningyo) inside, and eat chimaki (rice cakes wrapped in cogan grass or bamboo leaves) and kashiwamochi (rice cakes filled with bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves).

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia articles "Japanese festivals", "Seijin shiki", "Setsubun"

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