Festivals In Japan

Ne, Ne, we're gonna talk about festival in Japan this time.

Do you mind if we change the subject? Hehehe,,,

Well, this is several festivals I wanna share to you all.

Seijin Shiki is a festival which is held by a young man to welcome their twenty-year-old age. In the age of twenty is an adult stage of growth for them, because they already have citizenship right and right to give opinion. The girls usually wear kimono and take a picture together on that day.

Koinobori is a special festival for a family which have a son. It is held on every May 5th. A family which have a son waver a flag which have a form like a carp fish in the outside house. They decorate a samurai doll with its armor clothes and sword in the inside house as a symbol of strength.

Haru no Higan. Higan in spring time is happened around March 21th every year. Many people visit their family’s grave to pray for them who have been passed away.

Hanami is a party to watch sakura. It is held in the end of March or in the beginning of April. The time of sakura to blossom is different in one and another place, start from south territory. So, the time of  party to watch sakura is different too. They usually have a picnic below the tree.

Hinamatsuri is known as a doll festival. It is held on March 3rd. A family which have a daughter decorate a castle family doll and held a party. All the girls wear kimono and gather in front of hina doll shelf while eating a special cake like hoshimochi, arare’, etc.

Oshogatsu. Ganjitsu (on January 1st, the first day in one year) is held in Japan as a new year day. Commonly, during three days day after day Japanese people do not work. The beginning of this new year is called oshogatsu. All that day, Japanese people visit Shinto shrine and visit their family. The women wear a colorful kimono and drink sake together with their family, eating a special new year food that is called osechi ryoori. In front of houses are decorated a piece of pine on the pot with a pointed bamboo stem. This decoration is called kadomatsu.

Setsubun is a ceremony that is held on February 3rd or 4th. On twilight almost getting dark, the door is opened and people spread grain of  roast soybean peanut to every where in the house. It is done to chase away an evil spirit.