An ancient feast of fertility in modern Japan. Photo report

01.05.2019

Japan is a country rich in holidays. There is a solemn event almost every day. Holidays in Japan are accompanied by games, competitions, dancing, singing, processions, and performances.

Numerous holidays, according to their content and origin, can be divided into groups: national, state, religious, traditional.

Ancient agricultural holidays occupy a significant place in Japanese calendar. Rice-cultivated holidays are the brightest. Whole line holidays of contemplation of nature gave rise to the originality of oriental aesthetics.

Many holidays are dedicated to children. Hina Matsuri is the most famous of these.

But the Japanese, who love fun, relaxation and abundant feasts, could not do only with national holidays legalized by the state. They also have Matsuri. Matsuri are various festive processions, chants, traditional dances, fireworks,. so each city has its own traditional festivals - matsuri.

Public Holidays in Japan

There are officially 15 in Japan public holidays... TO national holidays Japan include: New Year(January 1), Majority Day (January 15), State Foundation Day (February 11), Day vernal equinox(March 21), Greenery Day (April 29), Constitution Day (May 3), Rest Day (May 4), Children's Day (May 5), Honoring the Aged Day (September 15), Day autumn equinox(September 21), Athlete's Day (October 10), Culture Day (November 3), Labor Day (November 23), Emperor Akihito's Birthday (December 23).

In Japan, in addition to state a large number of religious and traditional holidays as well as all kinds of local festivals. Consider the most significant and vibrant holidays.

Hanami Festival - Sakura Blossom

The main spring event in Japan is the sakura blossom, which the Japanese call hanami. This ancient Japanese tradition Viewing flowers originated in the 7th century.

Sakura festival in Japan is not an official holiday, but for the Japanese it is very important and significant. A huge number of people visit and spend their time in parks, squares and alleys during cherry blossom days. Since the cherry blossom period is relatively short (about two weeks), it is admired both in the daytime and in the evening. And the evening inspection is especially popular.

The time when the first cherry blossoms bloom, growing in Yasukuni in an ancient Buddhist temple, is considered to be the official starting point. Meteorological services immediately begin to notify how the very first buds to appear pink flowers. Approximate time for the city of Tokyo and its environs, the end of March is considered.

Ume (Japanese plum) is the very first to start this "procession" of flowers. Sakura begins to bloom after the minds.

Setsubun are four special days in the Japanese calendar, separating spring, summer, autumn and winter from each other. On these days, the Japanese perform purification rites. Spring Eve, the time when nature awakens, is the most important of the four holidays.

The Spring Festival is famous for its fun-shaped rituals. The main purpose of such rituals is to ensure well-being in next year and the expulsion of evil spirits. During the holiday, on the doors of every house, you can see a hanging sprig of osmanthus, famous for pungent odor and thorns.

Sweet white beans are the main attributes of the holiday. Many purification rituals are associated with them in Japan. First, the beans are deeply roasted over a fire, and then they are scattered around various rooms, especially in dark corners.

The cult of the genitals as a symbol of offspring and fertility has existed since ancient times in many countries. Japanese Shinto was no exception. At the same time, the theme of the phallus in the modern era is perceived in Japan, in contrast to Europe, as a natural thing, devoid of any vulgarity.

So, on the territory of the country there are many temples where the worship of women and male organs... Moreover, this procession is not hidden, but on the contrary, it is carried out with the organization mass festivals where thousands of people gather. Kanayami is one such temple.

The Honen Matsuri Fertility Festival is held annually in mid-March and is celebrated throughout the country. Japanese (usually childless women and men) enter the procession, holding wooden penises of various sizes in their hands, asking them to send them a good harvest, sexual strength and many children.

Servants of Shinto temples open the mass ceremonies with the Young Miko dance.

On this day, the Japanese drink a lot of sake, as this drink is considered to be a symbol of the harvest. Participants buy various souvenirs and food in the form of phalluses.

The Kanto Matsuri Festival is one of the most striking and spectacular holidays in Japan. It is celebrated annually from 4 to 7 August in the northeast of the country in the city of Tohoku. This tradition dates back to the Edo period (mid-18th century). Then the peasants suffered from disease and hunger. And Kanto Matsuri that holiday when people asked for good harvest, long life and health. For the holiday, special designs were made: many lanterns were hung on bamboo branches. These designs had their own name - Kanto. The sprouted rice sprout symbolized each Kanto.

In the 19th century, the lantern festival became very popular. Thus, processions with lanterns began to be performed on the streets of the city. The culmination of the celebration was that each participant carrying the Kanto tried to lift it up as high as possible. And today a very important role is played not by how the participants will be able to raise their Kantos quickly and high, but by how they will do it.

Usually the Lantern Festival starts when evening falls in the city. Thousands of people leave their homes to admire the solemn procession. Men carrying huge Kantos, to the sounds of music and shouts of the audience, demonstrate extraordinary skills of dexterity and balance: they climb onto each other's shoulders, while not letting go of the Kanto, place it on their foreheads, throw poles from hands to hips and much more. The festival participants really do wonders.

The position of the flashlights is very important for maintaining balance. Therefore, the design must always be symmetrical. The lanterns depict the professions of the Kanto owner, as well as symbols of the area.

Usually, about three thousand people take part in the festive procession, carrying 200 large Shiites in their hands.

One of the most ancient and important holidays in Japan, the festival of chrysanthemums is considered, which is celebrated at 9 moon month... It was the ninth lunar month in the traditional Japanese calendar that was called the chrysanthemum month.

The chrysanthemum flower has a special place in the life of the Japanese. The chrysanthemum is the symbol of the Japanese imperial house. The image of this flower can be seen on the covers of Japanese passports, on the attributes of politicians, on the premises of parliament, in diplomatic institutions, on coins, and on the imperial seal. Also, this flower is considered to be a symbol of longevity.

During the Chrysanthemum Festival, Japanese florists create huge dolls from live chrysanthemums. These are mainly characters literary works, legendary heroes and real historical figures.

Also on this day they prepare various dishes and chrysanthemum drinks: wine, liqueurs, salads, flower-shaped sweets and much more.

One of the main holidays in Japan is the Hina Matsuri or the Festival of the Dolls. It is celebrated on March 3rd. The exhibition lasts about a month.

Several different traditions underlie the celebration of the Girls' Day. So, one of them belongs to the Hean era. On this day, in noble families, special prayers were performed by spellcasters, which were aimed at ensuring that all the misfortunes and troubles of people were transferred to paper dolls... After performing such rituals, paper dolls were allowed to float on the sea or river. The Japanese called such dolls Nagashi-bina.

Initially, the holiday was celebrated among the military class and at court. But in a fairly short period of time, it spread among the people. And in the 18th century, the holiday was recognized as national. At this time was added new custom, which consisted in the following: in those houses where the girls lived, exhibitions were richly dressed dolls that depicted the customs of the life of the imperial palace.

This custom has survived to this day. But now these are not paper dolls, but real masterpieces of art, dressed in luxurious silk clothes and made of ceramics.

Usually, Hina dolls are not meant for everyday play. They are displayed on a special bookcase in the central room of the house, and they are simply admired. Some sets of dolls are very expensive and can be passed on from one generation to the next in a family.

Usually bought new set dolls when a girl is born in the family. The set is then completed with dolls donated by their relatives and friends.

As a rule, this set should include at least 15 dolls, which are dressed in multi-layer vintage clothes made of red material. The dolls depicting the empress and emperor in silk ancient ceremonial attire are the most valuable and richly decorated.

There is also such a belief that dolls cannot be exhibited for a long time, otherwise the desired hour of marriage will recede. Therefore, all items are packed and stored until the next exhibition. By March 3rd, the rooms where the doll exhibitions take place are also decorated. Balls made of artificial tangerine and cherry flowers are suspended from the ceiling. Also, each ball is decorated with hanging silk ribbons.

On this day, girls, dressed in smart kimonos, visit each other, give gifts, admire dolls, and treat them with special sweets. So girls are at ease game form learn the rules good taste, the ability to take good care of valuable things, concepts of character traits, and so on.

I, of course, know about such a holiday in Japan. And for a long time I wanted to post a selection, but it seemed to me quite one-sided, and somehow my hands did not reach to take up the topic seriously. But thanks to Ralph, he solved this question for me, you can say :)

Original taken from ralphmirebs in Japan: Feast of Fertility

Since ancient times, in many countries of the world, there was a cult of the genitals, as symbols of fertility and offspring. Japanese Shintoism did not escape this either, and in the modern era, the topic of the phallus, in contrast to Europe, is devoid of any vulgarity and is perceived by the Japanese as a natural thing. There are many temples scattered throughout the country where men or women are worshiped. female organs, and not secretly, but on the contrary with the organization of mass festivals, gathering thousands of people. One of these temples, called Kanayama, is located not so near our station, in the town of Kawasaki Daisi. According to the story, the temple was built in the Edo period with donations from priestesses of love praying for a cure from venereal diseases. The main place in it is occupied by the Kanamara or the Iron Phallus. According to legend, in the old days, a demon entered the bodies of women and bit off the phallus of young men. The women turned to a blacksmith for help, who forged a phallus from iron, about which the demon broke off his teeth and no longer bothered the inhabitants. That is why part of the temple imitates the interior of a forge, and an anvil is adjacent to the statue of the phallus. The holiday is held on the first Sunday in April and gathers a significant number of people, of which more than a third are foreigners who came to see the curiosity.

On the territory of the temple, tents are set up, where they sell a variety of phallic products - lollipops in the form of a penis, key chains, wooden figurines.

Nearby, master classes on cutting a phallus from a daikon radish are held for everyone.

Foreign girls and guys are happy to pose licking sweet penises, some wear rubber versions on their noses and heads.

In addition, the festival attracts representatives of sexual minorities, freaks, and just people who want to show off or pose in unusual costumes.

Mass temple ceremonies open with the dance of young Miko - servants of Shinto shrines. They are required to be unmarried and virgins, otherwise they do not have to serve in the temple all the time - they can be ordinary schoolgirls or students, attracted to the role of Miko only during the holidays.

Then comes the time of carrying and carrying Mikosi - special palanquins-storages for divine objects in which spirits live. Mikoshi is carried only by hand, for which, depending on the mass, it takes from several people to many tens. At the same time, the carriers repeat the rhythmic words and slightly swing the mikoshi. Anyone can take part in carrying the mikoshi, even a foreigner, although the circle can be narrowed (by gender or age) depending on the particular divine item. In the Kanayama Shrine, there are three mikoshi in each of which phalluses are installed.

Here the procession leaves the temple - in front are the priests, their assistants, demon tengu and miko.

They are followed by the first mikoshi - the largest in the form of a ship. It is carried by more than twenty people, dressed in traditional clothing for such festivals - belted capes and white tabi socks.

The second mikoshi looks like a huge pink phallus, entwined with traditional white paper strips... It is much lighter than the first, and it is carried by men disguised as women, possibly transvestites or gays.

The third mikoshi looks like a house with a phallus inside. People surround Mikoshi on all sides, so it seems that he is floating above their heads, swaying slightly. Sometimes the balance shifts to the side and then the carriers are slightly pulled to the side.

And this is a big-eared traffic controller (or traffic controller) road traffic on a completely formal basis. What would have happened if such a nyaka took to the streets of Moscow? Indeed, Japan is a very tolerant country, where you can stand out from the crowd as you like, without fear of being beaten by stupid inadequacies. Russia with its homo, raso and other phobias is still so far away from that ... とても悲しいだ。

There are many temples scattered across the country, in which the worship of male or female organs takes place, and not secretly, but on the contrary with the organization of mass festivals, gathering thousands of people.

One of these temples, called Kanayama, is located in the town of Kawasaki Daisi. According to the story, the temple was built in the Edo period with donations from priestesses of love praying for a cure from venereal diseases. The main place in it is occupied by the Kanamara or the Iron Phallus.

According to legend, in the old days, a demon entered the bodies of women and bit off the phallus of young men. The women turned to a blacksmith for help, who forged a phallus from iron, about which the demon broke off his teeth and no longer bothered the inhabitants.

That is why part of the temple imitates the interior of a forge, and an anvil is adjacent to the statue of the phallus. The holiday is held on the first Sunday in April and gathers a significant number of people, of which more than a third are foreigners who came to see the curiosity.

On the territory of the temple, tents are set up, where they sell a variety of phallic products - lollipops in the form of a penis, key chains, wooden figurines.

Nearby, master classes on cutting a phallus from a daikon radish are held for everyone.

Foreign girls and guys are happy to pose, licking sweet penises, some wear rubber versions on their noses and heads.

In addition, the festival attracts representatives of sexual minorities, freaks, and just people who want to show off or pose in unusual costumes.

Here the procession leaves the temple - in front are the priests, their assistants, demon tengu and miko.

The second mikoshi looks like a huge pink phallus entwined with traditional white paper stripes. It is much lighter than the first, and it is carried by men disguised as women, possibly transvestites or gays.

And this is a big-eared traffic controller (or traffic controller) on a completely official basis. What would have happened if such a nyaka took to the Russian streets?

Many Japanese cities host Penis Festivals every spring. In the town of Komaki, which is located near Nagoya, every year on March 15, hundreds of people come to the spring festival Honen-sai Matsur (Honen Matsuri), which began to be celebrated as early as 1,500 years ago.
The holiday takes place at the temple of the goddess of fertility Tamahime no mikoto and her husband, Take-ina-dane. Japanese people of all ages gather for this festival, they dress up in clothes white and a giant cypress penis weighing 280 kilograms and 2.5 meters long is carried through the streets.

Every year, craftsmen carve out a new one using ancient tools and techniques. According to legend, the new one has more vitality... Street vendors offer food in the form of a penis to festival participants. A similar holiday takes place in the city of Nagano, at such an annual festival a phallus of enormous size is exhibited. This real giant penis weighs over two tons and is physically worn around the streets for about a hundred strong men... The holiday is accompanied by exuberant fun and sake.

On the first Sunday in April, the Penis Festival is also held in the city of Kawasaki, near Tokyo. The holiday is timed to the beginning of flowering and glorifies fertility. The festival has been held since the early 17th century, culminating in the small Wakamiya Hachimangu shrine, which was built during the Edo period. According to legend, this temple was built at the expense of Japanese prostitutes. This temple is dedicated to a phallic deity called Kanamara-sama. In it, you can see two metal phalluses standing on a wooden platform - they resemble two large cannons. This is the first dildo in the history of nations, forged by a local craftsman for the goddess, in whose vagina a demon settled, biting off the phalluses of all her lovers. The iron phallus turned out to be too tough for the devil and became an unbending symbol of eternal love.

Women suffering from infertility come to this temple from all over Japan in the hope that the phallic deity will help them so that they can have children. Among the pilgrims there are many parents, whose wishes have already been fulfilled. The temple is especially crowded on the annual fertility festival. Children lick penis lollipops and munch on bananas with a pink chocolate head. Even the toys that are sold here on holiday days are shaped like a male member. The Togata Temple houses Japan's largest collection of erotic talismans. These are mainly images of a male member. All items were donated to the temple by grateful parents, who learned the joy of fatherhood and motherhood, which, in their opinion, was due to the beneficial influence of the holy tree growing in the temple garden.