Festivals in Japan. Famous festivals and national festivities. Festivals in Japan during cruises

The whole world knows that the Japanese are a very hardworking nation, they literally live at work. They show the same diligence in organizing festivals and celebrating holidays. Surprisingly, there are only 15 public holidays in Japan, not to mention various traditional holidays and festivals.
It is difficult to calculate how many holidays and festivals there really are in Japan, given that there are about 190,000 temples in the Land of the Rising Sun, and each of them organizes a festival at least once a year, and some bring the number of holidays to 70 a year. In addition to religious celebrations, the Japanese organize fire festivals, dance festivals, snow festivals, various music festivals and others. Many celebrations include traditional tests that demonstrate strength, dexterity, endurance, courage, and can be not only quiet and calm, but also completely wild, unbridled and sometimes even dangerous.

Tokushima Awa Odori

Tokushima Awa Odori is a huge dance festival in Tokushima that attracts over 1.3 million tourists each year from August 12 to 15. Participants dress in brightly colored clothes and dance, accompanying shamisen, gongs, and flutes. Ava Odori is part of the larger Obon festival. Dances are divided into day and night. Daytime dances are restrained and elegant, while night dances, on the contrary, are energetic and active. Spectators are also invited to participate.

Kanto Matsuri

From 3 to 6 August in the Japanese city of Akita is held a festival of lanterns - Kanto Matsuri. Participants show remarkable dexterity, demonstrating their ability to manage huge bamboo poles, on which clusters of lanterns with burning candles inside are attached. Such designs are called Kanto. The weight of such poles together with lanterns can reach 50 kg. And the night procession is the most spectacular part of the festival. Participants are divided into groups, lined up and, on command, simultaneously raise the canto up, showing their skills.

Sapporo Yuuki Matsuri

In February, Sapporo hosts a snow festival for a whole week. It appeared by chance when, in 1950, bored students made some snow sculptures in Odori Park. The Japanese liked the idea so much that the Snow Festival has since become an annual event. Every year, visitors to Odori Park can admire about 150 huge snow and ice figures that attract several million people. For safety reasons, the height of the sculptures is limited to avoid accidents when cleaning structures after the festival.

Jidai Matsuri

Jidai Matsuri - This historical festival, the so-called "Festival of the Ages", is held in Kyoto on October 22, although sometimes the date of the holiday can be shifted due to weather. Approximately 2000 people in clothes of different eras take part in the procession. Here you can see the historical characters of Kyoto, and beautiful geisha, and noble samurai, and even mythical birds, in whose costumes children are often dressed up.

fireworks festival

Since the 17th century, the Japanese have been organizing a fireworks festival. Traditionally held on the last Saturday of July, the festival is a spectacle not to be missed. Thousands and thousands of rockets fly into the sky to bloom it with giant fiery flowers. In addition to flowers, Japanese masters, competing with each other, draw whole pictures in the sky: hieroglyphs, tailed stars, mythical animals and birds, creating a unique fairy-tale atmosphere.

Hadaka Matsuri

One of the craziest Japanese holidays is the Hadaka Matsuri or Race for the Nude. On the third Saturday of February, thousands of men, dressed only in loincloths, bathe in the river, and then they begin to run around the temple and arrange fights among themselves, apparently to keep warm. And so on until midnight, when the culmination of the holiday comes. A sacred wand is thrown into the crowd, and the one who catches it becomes a "naked man." Everyone must certainly touch it so that a naked person takes away all misfortunes and problems. The poor fellow runs to the finish line in a semi-conscious state, covered with bruises and abrasions. Without injuries and hypothermia, this fun holiday by itself is not complete.

cherry blossom - certainly the main, but not the only reason to visit Japan in March and April.

March, 3rd Celebrated Hina Matsuri - Girls' Day when a special shelf for traditional dolls in expensive Japanese clothes is installed in all houses. On this day, a festival is held at the Awashima Shinto Shrine in the city of Wakayama, during which hundreds of dolls are floated on the sea surface, which are believed to carry illness and misfortune with them, and on a long staircase leading to the Tomisaki Shrine, located near Tokyo, bright Japanese dolls representing princesses and generals of the Middle Ages line up row after row on the steps.
March 1st to 14th in the ancient capital of Japan - the city of Nara - the festivalomizutori- a holiday of greeting spring in the Buddhist temple Todai-ji. Large torches are kindled around the wooden temple, the sparks of which are considered cleansing and blessing.
Sumo lovers have a chance to visit one of the main sporting events in Japan - the spring tournament of the professional sumo league, held from March 13 to 27 in Osaka.
March 14th - authentic Japanese holiday, which the Japanese called "White Day". Every man who received a gift from his beloved on Valentine's Day, a month later gives a return gift, which should not be inferior to the one received. On this day, thousands of Japanese people can be seen in shopping centers of the city, looking at shop windows in confusion.
1 – April 30- Geisha dancing Miyako Odori in Kyoto. Every year since 1873, the historic Kaburen-jo Theater has hosted geisha and maiko performances preceded by a tea ceremony.

Mid April- end of November– Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Road. The snow corridor in the Tateyama area stretches for many kilometers, and the height of the walls reaches 20 meters.

May - one of the best times to visit Japan, when the scents of blooming gardens are in the air, blown by the fresh sea breeze. Warm May days are conducive to walks in the parks and participation in festivals and rituals, which abound in the last month of spring.
April 29 - May 5 –Golden Week. Golden Week is the longest holiday period in Japan, coinciding with the best weather of the year and the perfect time to travel around the country.
May 1 – 31 – Wisteria bloom in Ashikaga Park.
Not far from Tokyo, there is a park that attracts thousands of tourists every May. the place is known all over the world as the most picturesque wisteria park: you will see pink and purple wisteria, white and yellow, as well as giant wisteria, whose flowering branches cover an area of ​​1000 sq.m., and rare double wisteria.
May 5 - Children's Day. On this day, it is customary to pray for the health of children throughout Japan. Initially, this holiday was dedicated only to male children, so many of its attributes are associated with samurai traditions and the preparation of the boy to step on the path of a warrior. Above the houses where there are sons, colorful flagpoles in the form of carps (koinobori) rise in the May wind.

20 – 22 May – Sanja matsuri. A Shinto festival held at one of Tokyo's main shrines, Asakusa Jinja. These days, palanquins-mikosi are carried through the streets of the city, they sing songs and arrange performances. It is believed that a deity sits in a palanquin, which amuses in all possible ways, and it blesses the streets and houses, past which it is carried.
May 15 - Aoi Matsuri. A festival that has been held in Kyoto since the 10th century and plays out the procession of the imperial family and court through the streets of the ancient capital. The whole event is designed in a strict and authentic style of early medieval culture. Every year, among thousands of contestants, an unmarried girl is chosen to play the role of a princess. Her outfit consists of 30 layers of kimono.
May 8 – 22 – Summer Sumo Tournament. One of three major league professional competitions held in Tokyo, Japan provides tourists and residents of Japan with the opportunity to witness this ancient, native Japanese sport.

June – August. If you are traveling to Japan in the summer,
then you will have the opportunity not only to visit the most famous cities, gardens and temples of the Land of the Rising Sun, immersed in dense greenery, but also to take part in numerous summer festivals, visit sumo tournaments and climb to the top of the sacred Mount Fuji.
7 – 17 June – sanno festival, during which a parade takes place, stretching for 25 km through the streets of downtown Tokyo.
July 1 - 29 - Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto. It is one of the longest and most lavish festivities in Japan, culminating in a mass procession of colorful floats, each with a different design and dedicated to a particular folklore theme.

July 16 - August 31 - beach season in Central Japan.
July 24 - 25 - Tenjin Matsuri. Osaka City's largest summer festival combines the most attractive spectacles typical of Japanese holidays: fireworks, mikoshi palanquin processions, geisha performances, bonfires on boats in the bay and a parade dressed in traditional 8th century costumes.
July 7 - Tanabata. This is the most romantic holiday in Japan,
when the stars Altair and Vega meet in the sky, personifying Bootes and the Weaver, separated by the Milky Way and seen only once a year. This evening, festivals and fairs are held where you can taste Japanese delicacies and play traditional games. The festivities end with colorful fireworks.
July 10 - September 10 - the season of climbing Mount Fuji. Only in these few months is it allowed to climb to the top of the sacred mountain. There are several climbing routes, some of which are easy even for small children, while others are only for seasoned climbers. As a rule, the ascent begins in the afternoon, because meeting the dawn on the top of the highest mountain in Japan is an unforgettable adventure!
July 10 - 24 - sumo tournament in the city of Nagoya, one of the annual professional league competitions, when viewers can see the legendary athletes live.

July 3 - 15 - Aubon. This Buddhist holiday is one of the most important religious events of the year. On these few days, it is customary to commemorate the dead, arrange evening dances around the fires and lower thousands of lanterns down the river, which are transported by the flow of water to another world and convey the news to the souls of relatives and friends. In some regions of the country, such as Kyoto, this holiday is timed to mid-August.
July 30 - Sumida River Fireworks Festival in Tokyo. This holiday is good because everyone can watch the beauty of fireworks, and not only from two specially equipped sites on the embankment, but from almost anywhere in the Shitamachi area. 22 thousand fireworks against the backdrop of the Tokyo Skytree is very beautiful. The performance will last almost an hour and a half - from 19:05 to 20:30.
August 2 - 7 - Nebuta Festival in the prefecture
Aomori is a truly unforgettable sight: huge paper lanterns on mobile catwalks drive through the streets of the city. Each lantern is the scene of an epic battle or myth of the country. August 6 - Paper lanterns are launched into the water on the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Every year, myriads of pilgrims from all over the world visit this city to commemorate the victims of the disaster and remind them of the importance of maintaining peace.
August 16 - Daimonji Festival in Kyoto, the culmination of several days of Obon rites. On a festive night, on the slopes of the mountains around Kyoto, large bonfires are lit in the form of 3 hieroglyphs, sacred gates and a ship, the smoke from which is designed to guide the departed who visited our world back to the world of spirits.

Autumn. In September, sea water still retains summer
warm for swimming, but surfers become the owners of the coast, and by October the weather changes to cool and dry. Despite the seasonal changes, this is one of the best times to travel, and in some cities, like Nikko, maple leaves are starting to turn scarlet. In November it gets a little cooler, and the whole Land of the Rising Sun is covered with a red cloth. momiji - Japanese maples.
September 1 - Disaster Prevention Day. All government agencies and company offices on this day hold lectures and exercises on the basics of behavior in extreme situations.
September - November - grape harvest season. Vineyards in Yamanashi, Nagano and Wakayama prefectures offer visitors a harvest during which they can enjoy the fruit without restriction.
September 11 - 25 - autumn sumo tournament.October 16 - 18 - Niihama Taiko Drum Festival. 47 large platforms shaped like giant taiko drums are carried through the streets of Niihama, Shikoku. Several teams of about 150 people rock them, thereby demonstrating the team spirit to the audience. Sometimes they also try to knock over opponents' platforms.
October - Nagasaki Kunti Festival. This harvest festival dates back to 1634 and is influenced by European and Chinese culture. The festival has an interesting history: in the 17th century it was used to expose secret Christians.

October - Kurama Mountain Fire Festival in Kyoto, during which the initiation of young people into adulthood takes place.
October 9 - 10 - Autumn Festival in Takayama. The procession includes 11 platforms, brightly lit by paper lanterns in the evening. The platforms are equipped with mechanical puppets.
October 22 - Jidai Matsuri. Residents Parade
city ​​of Kyoto, passing from the Imperial Palace to the Heian Shrine, celebrating the founding of the city. The procession is made up of locals in national dresses of the 9th century.
November - Tori no Ichi Festival at Shinto shrines across the country. At this time, on the eve of the New Year, temples sell special wreaths decorated with various auspicious symbols, which should serve as amulets for the next year.
November 1 - 3 - Meiji Jingu Shrine Autumn Festival. Three days of demonstrations and performances featuring the best of the best in their art, including archers, sumo wrestlers, dancers and drummers.

November 2 - 4 - Karatsu Kunti Festival. Celebration in the small town of Karatsu with a 19th century float procession. The culmination of the parade is a competition to carry these platforms along the seashore.
November 13 - 27 - sumo tournament on the island of Kyushu. The last of the six annual big tournaments taking place in the city of Fukuoka.
Mid-November - Shichigosan. In this period
children aged 3, 5 and 7 dress in ceremonial kimonos and visit temples. These years are considered happy and important in the life of young Japanese people.
November - February - persimmon season.
Mid-November - end of December - Christmas illumination. All the cities of the country dress up in sparkling garlands and set up unique lighting, decorating their city before Christmas, which is more romantic in nature than religious.

Winter.
December 2 - 3 - Chichibu Night Festival. A nighttime celebration in the city of Saitama near Tokyo, during which processions of floats and mikoshi pass through the streets, and the sky is lit up with winter fireworks.
December 15 - 18 - Kasuga-Wakamiya Festival, within the framework of which a parade of Japanese people in medieval clothes is organized in the city of Nara. This holiday has more than 800 years of history. December - April - ski season in Japan.
December 23 - Emperor's birthday. This is a national holiday, when the people can see the imperial family live.
January 1 - Japanese New Year. A family holiday, when the inhabitants of the country in the morning in their best kimonos go to Shinto shrines to meet the sunrise and receive predictions for the next year.
January - Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival near Sapporo. Fanciful ice sculptures made from lake water are especially beautiful after sunset, when they are adorned with night illumination.

January 2 - Emperor's New Year's greetings. On this day, the only time of the year, anyone can enter the imperial palace and see the imperial family. Since the emperor is considered a descendant of the supreme goddess Amaterasu, seeing him at the beginning of the year is a good omen.
January 1 - 7 - fukubukuro sale. Fukubukuro (“bags of happiness”) are bags of various sizes and shapes sold in almost all stores in the country. The price and contents of the packages vary greatly: You can buy a kilogram of oranges at exorbitant prices or car keys for a few pennies.
January 10 - 24 - New Year's sumo tournament.
January 10 - Omato Taikai. Annual Tournament
archery for 20-year-old athletes. It takes place in Kyoto at Sanjusangendo Temple, the longest wooden structure in the world.
Second Monday of January - Coming of Age Day. In Japan, adulthood occurs at age 20. Girls who turn this round date before Coming of Age wear kimonos and young men wear business suits and attend government-sponsored events.

January 28 - Wakakusa Yamayaki in the city of Nara. Hundreds of years ago, there was a lively land dispute between the Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji temples on Mt. Wakakusa, as a result of which all the grass on it was scorched. Since then, the mountain has been set on fire every year in memory of what happened.
February 3 - Setsubun. Setsubun - spring day
equinoxes, on the night before which it is customary to exorcise evil spirits, scattering beans outside the threshold with the words: "Damn - out, happiness - into the house." In the city of Nara, on a festive night, 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns are lit at the Kasuga Shrine.

Beginning of February - snow festival inSapporo when the city center is decorated with huge snow sculptures of various themes with bright evening illumination.
February 14 - Valentine's Day in Japan. One of the most romantic days: young Japanese women give their beloved gifts, among which handmade ones are especially appreciated - knitted scarves and gloves, pastries and cakes. This day is considered the most favorable for declarations of love.

Now Japan has 14 public holidays (weekends) and many more traditional, religious and local holidays and festivals. Some of them arose quite recently, some have been celebrated for a thousand years.

Note that it is not customary to congratulate people on most holidays in Japan - they are simply celebrated. The Japanese usually congratulate each other in connection with important events in life - happy birthday, enrollment in high school, admission to college, the birth of a child.

On all "personal" occasions, it is customary to give gifts. Also gifts are given at the end of the year ( oseibo) and in the middle of summer, during the Bon holiday ( otyugen). Usually various useful things act as a gift: soap, towels, food, alcohol, exotic fruits. At the same time, it is not customary to make a gift too "personal", indicating both an excellent knowledge of the life of the recipient, and the personality of the donor.

Most of all, it is not the gift itself that is valued, but its appearance - beautiful packaging. Gifts are never unwrapped in the presence of the giver, so as not to offend him inadvertently. It is also not customary to refuse gifts.

January

January 1 - New Year ( Ganjitsu), a public holiday and one of the most magnificent celebrations throughout the year. The celebration continues from December 30 to January 3. Prayer is held on New Year's Eve Hatsu-mode during which people pray for happiness in the coming year. The Japanese exchange greeting cards and give each other gifts.

On the night of January 1, no one usually sleeps, so the first dream of the new year falls on January 2. Hatsu-yume("the first dream of the year") is considered prophetic and is seen as divination of good luck for the whole year. The best dreams are Mount Fuji or wealth.

On January 2 and 3, a two-day marathon relay race is held "Ekiden"(the name comes from an ancient courier communication system) between the cities of Tokyo and Hakone (round trip - 216.4 km, divided into 10 stages). It has been held since 1917 in honor of the move of the Imperial Court from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1867 and is one of the most important sports events in Japan.

On January 7, Japanese families cook rice porridge with "seven spring herbs" ( haru no nanakusa). The composition of these herbs depends on the locality. It is believed that this porridge fills the body with strength for the whole year.

On January 11, the Japanese break the remaining from the New Year and already dried decorative rice balls - mochi(ritual kagami biraki). Usually two such koloboks are kept in the family altar for all holidays. Soup is made from their leftovers and eaten, dedicating the meal to the deities. It is important to break the bun, and not cut it (this will already be a bad sign).

On the second Monday of January (until 2000 - January 15), Coming of Age Day is celebrated ( Seijin no hi). It is a public holiday for everyone who turned 20 last year. From this age, the Japanese get the legal right to vote, smoke and drink alcohol. Before 1876, the age of majority was 15 for boys and 13 for girls.

Throughout January, the Japanese worship and pray to the Seven Gods of Fortune.

February

February 3 or 4 is celebrated Setsubun(new year's eve according to the old calendar). On the night of Setsubun, a ceremony is held in the houses mame-maki("throwing beans"). Children fill cups with beans and scatter them around the rooms, casting spells to scare away demons. they. At the end of the ceremony, everyone eats as many beans as their age. This rite drives away demons and guarantees health during this year.

February 4th or 5th is Chinese New Year or Rissyun- The beginning of spring. From that day on, field work begins in Japan.

February 11 - public holiday Day of foundation of the state ( Kigen setsu). It was established in 1873 to commemorate the coronation of Emperor Jimmu. The holiday was canceled after World War II and restored in 1966.

February 14 - Valentine's Day. In Japan, on this day, girls and women give chocolates to their lovers. honmei, and to your friends and colleagues - chocolates - weights. The type of chocolate bar is written on the greeting card. This holiday has been celebrated with chocolate since 1958.

March

March 3 - Puppet Festival ( Hina matsuri). This is a holiday for little girls. On this day, small exhibitions of dolls in Heian period clothes are held in houses. If these dolls are not removed after the end of the holiday, then the daughters will not get married for a long time. Dolls are usually either hidden in a closet or thrown into the river and pray that the dolls take on all the troubles that may befall the fate of girls.

March 14 - White day. On this day, men give white chocolate to women in gratitude for Valentine's Day gifts. The holiday has been celebrated since 1965.

March 20 or 21 - Spring Equinox Day ( Shunbun no hi). The week period beginning three days before the vernal equinox is called higan. At this time, the Japanese visit the graves of their ancestors. From that day on, cherry blossoms begin to bloom in southern Japan.

In March, major Japanese children's animation festivals begin.

April

April 8 - Buddha's Birthday ( Kambutsu-e) or Flower Festival ( Hana matsuri). This is a Buddhist holiday, on this day Buddhist temples are decorated with flowers, and parishioners are given a special flower tea - amatya. It is believed that he has magical powers, various charms are written to them. Buddha statues are also poured with this tea. According to legend, immediately after the birth, nine celestial dragons sprinkled the baby's head with water. This legend is reproduced by the rite. Flowers symbolize the garden Lumbini in which the Enlightened One was born.

April 29 - Green Day ( Midori no hi). This is a public holiday of love for nature. Until 1988, it was celebrated as the Emperor's Birthday Showa. After the emperor's death in 1989, it was renamed Greenery Day because the late emperor was very fond of nature. Trees are planted all over Japan on this day. On April 29, the holidays of the "Golden Week" begin.

Throughout March, April and May, the Japanese arrange khanami- admiring cherry blossoms. To do this, they usually go out of town for picnics.

May

From April 29 to May 5, a week of public holidays is held in Japan under the general name "Golden Week". May 1 - May Day. May 3 - Constitution Day ( Campokinambi), which has been celebrated since 1947. May 4 is also declared a public holiday so as not to disrupt the week. ^_^ "Golden Week" is considered to be the ideal time for holidays - Japan has the best weather during this time.

May 5 - public holiday Children's Day ( Kodomo no hi). Previously, it was a holiday only for boys. On this day, families with boys hang out wind pennants in the form of carps ( koinobori). The carp is considered a symbol of courage, strength and success because it can swim against the current.

The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day. The Japanese borrowed this holiday from the Americans and began to celebrate it since 1913 (with a break for the war). Children on this day give their mothers gifts and flowers and help them with housework.

June

June 4 - Day of the fight against caries. During the week, dentists visit schools and talk about the dangers of caries and how to brush your teeth properly.

The third Sunday in June is Father's Day. Like Mother's Day, this holiday came from the USA. On this day, children give gifts to their fathers, usually ties, wallets, umbrellas, and so on. Also, some schools organize classes on this day so that fathers (who work on weekdays) can come to school and see how their children study.

From early June to mid-July in Japan - the summer rainy season ( Tsuyu).

July

July 1 - the opening of the climbing season on Mount Fuji ( Yamabiraki). There is a post office at the top of the mountain, and anyone can send a letter from it to prove to their friends that he really was at the top of Fuji.

July 7 - holiday Tanabata or the Festival of the Stars. According to legend, on this night the stars Shepherd (Altair) and Spinner (Vega) meet, usually separated by the Milky Way. At night, the Japanese make wishes, write them on narrow strips of paper and tie them to bamboo stalks. In some parts of the country, this holiday is celebrated on August 7th.

July 20 - Sea Day ( Umi no hi). It was declared a public holiday only in 1996, but has been celebrated since 1941 to commemorate the return of the emperor Meiji to the port of Yokohama from a trip to northern Japan in 1876. Now summer holidays begin on this day.

August

August 15 - Day of Remembrance for the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (August 9, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945). On this day, Japan formally surrendered.

Days dedicated to the holiday are held in mid-August Bon- Day of the ancestors. It is believed that these days the ancestors visit the houses where they used to live. Special welcome bonfires are lit for them. mukae-bi, which at the end of the holiday are replaced by farewell bonfires okuri-bi. Sometimes okuri-bi are lit in lamps and floated down the water. Ceremony in Buddhist temples Urabon in honor of deceased ancestors. All over Japan these days people are dancing a special circle dance. Odori performed in national costumes. On the Bon holiday, vacations are often given to visit the graves of ancestors. During the Bon holiday, it is customary to give gifts to each other.

During the whole month of August, fireworks night festivals are organized in Japan.

September

August 31 or September 1 - day Nihyaku current the beginning of the typhoon season. Harvesting must end before that day, otherwise the harvest will perish. By tradition, this day is considered the 210th day since the Rissun holiday.

In addition to typhoons, September also marks the beginning of the autumn rainy season ( Akisame).

On September 1, 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred, in which 140,000 people died in the vicinity of Tokyo, and Tokyo itself was destroyed. In 1960, this day was declared Disaster Relief Day. On this day, schools conduct training evacuations of schoolchildren. Usually they end with the ceremony of the beginning of a new trimester. ^_^

September 15 is a public holiday Respect for the Elderly Day ( Cairo no hi). It has been celebrated since 1951 and was declared national in 1966.

September 14 or 15 - Day of admiring the full moon ( Chushu no meigetsu). On this day, donuts in the shape of a full moon are eaten. The holiday is dedicated to the moon god Tsukiyoshi.

September 23 or 24 - Day of the autumnal equinox ( Shubun no hee). The week period beginning three days before the Autumnal Equinox is called Higan (as in spring). At this time, the Japanese also visit the graves of their ancestors.

October

October 1 - Day of collecting donations for the benefit of the poor. Its symbol is a red feather, and this tradition came to Japan from the USA. Many celebrities are involved in fundraising.

Second Monday in October (until 2000 - October 10) - public holiday Sports Day ( Taiku no hi). Established in honor of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Various sports competitions are held on this day.

International Book Week takes place from October 27 to November 9. The holiday has been celebrated since 1947 and is borrowed from the United States.

November

November 3 - Culture Day ( Bunka no hi), Public Holiday. On this day in 1946, the new Japanese Constitution was published. On this day, the emperor awards awards in the field of culture.

November 15 - Holiday City-go-san("Seven-five-three"). On this day, children as young as three, boys as young as five, and girls as young as seven visit Shinto shrines and pray for longevity. In ancient times, at the age of three, children stopped shaving their heads baldly; at the age of five, boys were first dressed in bloomers - hakama, and for girls at the age of seven they tied a belt for the first time obi. Therefore, now children usually come to temples in national costumes. After visiting the temple, parents buy their children a longevity candy - chitose ame. It comes with a bag that depicts a stork and a tortoise, ancient symbols of long life. Literally "chitose" means "thousand years".

November 23 is a public holiday Labor Thanksgiving Day ( Kinrokansha no hi). It was established in 1948 in honor of the ancient Harvest Festival ( Niinamesai). During this holiday, the emperor thanked the gods for the harvest of rice and symbolically shared a meal with them. Now this holiday is also associated with job security and human rights.

December

December 25-28 - making mochi rice balls to eat on New Year's Eve. Mochi are considered to be the embodiment of the spirit of rice. Eating them is communion with his divine power.

December 31 - ceremony omisoka cleaning the house before the New Year. The house is thoroughly washed and cleaned, all garbage is thrown out. Eating long noodles on New Year's Eve toshi-kosi("passing from year to year") so that life lasts as long as these noodles. At midnight, Buddhist temples ring the bell 108 times to overcome the 108 passions that prevent people from reaching Enlightenment. These 108 strokes mark the beginning of the new year for the Japanese.

Japan is a country of ancient traditions and complex history. While many countries are trying to abandon their customs, the Land of the Rising Sun honors ancient holidays and watches cherry blossoms year after year.

The Japanese holiday calendar consists of fifteen official dates. During the shukujitsu period, which means “holiday”, the Japanese most often rest. However, the official calendar of holidays is diluted with many more events.

As you know, Japan consists of dozens of prefectures. Each of them has its own traditional holidays. But still there are holidays in Japan, which are celebrated throughout the country.

cherry blossom

The cherry blossom festival in Japan is one of the most ancient and revered. The date of the celebration is different every year. The official day of the beginning of the flowering of trees is the appearance of the first flower on the sakura in the Buddhist temple of Yasukuni, located in Tokyo. On this day, meteorological services broadcast a message throughout the country that flowering has begun.

However, the cherry blossom festival in Japan is not an official event. Weekends and the like are not defined for this period, but this does not prevent the Japanese themselves and tourists from stopping and admiring the beautiful trees.

New Year

O-shogatsu - that's what it is called On New Year's holidays, it is customary to decorate houses with willow and bamboo branches.

For more than a millennium, the onset of the New Year has been marked by one hundred and eight bells in Buddhist temples. Each of them symbolizes the pernicious habits of mankind, driven away by sacred sounds.

After the final blow, almost all Japanese leave their houses and go to nearby temples to pray and make a wish.

coming of age day

National holidays in Japan include coming of age. On the twelfth of February, prefectural authorities throw parties for those who have just turned twenty.

On the eve of the holiday, everyone who has reached the age of majority in the last year receives a special. However, those who evade the residence tax will not be invited to the celebration.

These holidays in Japan became an official celebration only in 1948. Prior to this, young people were congratulated in a narrow family circle or in temples.

Setsubun

The holidays of ancient Japan have an interesting history, and Setsubun is no exception. Buddhism is a belief that every object and thing has a spiritual embodiment. So in Setsubun in all houses they carry out the expulsion of evil spirits, or Mame-maki.

In addition to apartments and houses, evil spirits are also expelled from temples. This event attracts a lot of spectators. At the end of the ceremony, people dressed as devils run out of the temple, symbolizing purification.

Day of foundation of the state

Japan's national holidays in February include National Foundation Day. In 1967, the eleventh of February became an official holiday.

The Jimma holiday was introduced not for the Japanese, but for world leaders. With this, the government decided to show that power in Japan is in the hands of the Emperor. However, for the people of the country it does not matter what political significance this day has. Most Japanese people are patriots, so Jimma is important to them. The celebration is held with family, friends and winter sports.

Girls' Holiday

The country's national holidays include the Hina Matsuri, also known as the Girls' Day in Japan. The first month of spring in the Land of the Rising Sun is purely feminine. In addition to the eighth of March, peach blossom and Doll Day are celebrated. But only the holiday of girls became a national day.

The first mention of this day dates back to the eighth century and the Heian era. On the third of March, all the girls are dressed up in traditional robes - kimonos. They visit friends' houses, congratulate other girls and receive gifts themselves.

Day of spring equinox

The twentieth of March is also included in the official holidays of Japan. or Higan, important to all Japanese. This holiday marks the beginning. On the eve of it, the inhabitants of Japan carefully clean their houses, put in order home altars and commemorate the dead. Translated from Japanese, "Higan" is the world where the dead have gone.

Meals on this day do not contain meat products. Ritual dishes are strictly vegetarian - a tribute to the fact that, according to Buddhism, you can not eat the meat of the dead.

Showa Day

The twenty-ninth of April is the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, who ruled the country in the last century. Over time, he was awarded the title of Showa. But the Japanese, honoring their history, decided not to forget an important figure for the country and perpetuated his memory by creating a national holiday.

However, April is not only celebrations for the birth of Emperor Hirohito. This month Kyoto hosts open days and residences of the current Emperor. Many residents of Japan come to admire the grandeur of ancient architecture.

Constitution day

Since 1948, the third of May is an official holiday, when Constitution Day is celebrated.

After the defeat in World War II, the Japanese authorities were forced to change the country and accept the conditions of the victorious countries. Thus, in 1947, the sovereignty of the Japanese inhabitants was recognized, the country became a parliamentary one, and the great Emperor became a "symbol".

Japanese holidays and traditions often date back to ancient times, but Constitution Day is relatively new, allowing Japan to take off after defeat and become one of the most powerful countries in the world.

green day

Another holiday associated with the legendary Showa Emperor is Greenery Day in Japan. On the fourth of May, the Japanese celebrate a "natural" holiday. This event is connected with the love of the former Emperor for green spaces and trees. During the Emperor Showa's travels around the country, subjects planted new trees in the villages.

However, for the Japanese themselves, this is one of the holidays, in whose history they do not go deep. So, until 2007, Greenery Day was not celebrated on the fourth of May, the holiday did not have an exact date at all.

Children's Day

Children's Day, or the so-called Boys' Day in Japan, is celebrated on May 5th. Flags with koi-nobori - carps are flying all over the country.

According to ancient legend, a koi carp living in a deep swampy pond was able to overcome all obstacles and crossed the Dragon Whirlpool waterfall. After that, he changed: a simple carp became a dragon and ascended into distant skies.

It is for strength and stamina that the image of a carp is used in the celebration. So the boy must follow the example of the fish and turn into a real man.

Mothers Day

Traditional holidays in Japan include Mother's Day. On the tenth of May, every Japanese family congratulates mothers. Although in recent years this holiday has become just a way to sell more gifts for dear mothers.

A week before the holiday in Japan, so-called gifts for mothers are put up for sale: aprons, bags, dresses, wallets, cosmetics, perfumes, etc. On television, advertisements for brands that provide discounts and gifts are played.

But, regardless of this, all Japanese revere mothers. They believe that mothers are the center of every family and society as a whole.

Tanabata

The Tanabata (“Seven Evenings”) festival has a history of more than a thousand years. The celebration begins on the seventh of July. The country is decorated with bamboo branches prepared especially for the celebration.

According to legend, Tenko, the king of heaven, had a daughter, Orihime. She spun clothes of extraordinary beauty. Her products were so beautiful that the father forced his daughter to work every day. But due to constant work, the girl could not meet and fall in love with anyone. Tenko, wanting to make his daughter happier, introduced her to the shepherd Hikobosi.

Young people fell in love at first sight and soon got married. They spent a lot of time on each other, and therefore, soon the cows scattered along the banks of the Heavenly River, and Orihime stopped spinning.

Tenko got angry and decided to punish them. He separated them on different sides of the sky. But Orihime begged her father to have mercy and let her see her husband. Once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, when Altair and Vega cross, Orihime and Hikoboshi can see each other.

Obon

From the thirteenth to the fifteenth of August, a holiday is held throughout Japan during which the memory of the dead is honored. The three-day obliges the Japanese to visit the graves of deceased family members.

At nightfall, people release paper lanterns, symbolizing the souls of the dead. According to Buddhism, lanterns will help souls find their way home.

Although Obon is not an official holiday, almost all offices and businesses close during this period. Every Japanese tries to visit his native home and commemorate the memory of departed family members.

sea ​​day

Surrounded on all sides by seas and oceans, on July 20, Japan celebrates a national holiday: Sea Day.

In the nineties of the last century, the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun began to realize the real value of the water surface off the coast of Japan. They began to actively advocate for the inclusion of the Day of the Sea in the list of official holidays. The result was achieved pretty soon. For the first time, the Day of the Sea was celebrated already in 1996.

Day of Respect for the Elderly

Since 1947, the twenty-first of September has been the Day of honoring the elderly. The idea to promote it as a national holiday was suggested by Maso Kadowaki, who was in charge of Hyogo Prefecture. At first, a small part of Japan joined the celebrations, but since 1950 this day has become increasingly popular.

Until 2007, Honor the Elderly Day was celebrated on the fifteenth of February.

Autumn equinox day

And Higan again. The autumn equinox is celebrated on the twenty-third of September. The dishes are again vegetarian: the Buddhist faith forbids eating the meat of slain creatures.

In the Buddhist faith, Higan, both spring and autumn, carries an ancient meaning. Regardless of the times and situation in the country, the Japanese always honor the memory of the dead.

sake day

Holidays in Japan in October begin on the first of October - Sake Day.

Sake is the national alcoholic drink of Japan. The process of its preparation is long and difficult, even taking into account the automation of the process. Sake is made from rice, the resulting drink contains from thirteen to sixteen percent alcohol.

Sake is traditionally poured into choko, earthenware cups with a volume of forty milliliters. The bottle has a volume of one go, which is equivalent to 180 milliliters.

The Japanese try to stick to the rules when drinking sake. Drink easily and with a smile. Do not rush and maintain an individual rhythm. Know your limits and eat.

Culture Day

On November 3rd, the Japanese celebrate National Culture Day. It stretches for a week, during this period students have almost no classes. Senior students tell campus guests about their achievements and life at the university.

But the celebration takes place not only in educational institutions. Girls and women dressed in traditional Japanese outfits walk through the cities and historically important parts of the country.

Emperor's birthday

The emperors of Japan, acting and deceased, are significant figures. People revere their rulers even after 1947, when they became only a symbol of the nation.

On December 23, Japan celebrates the birthday of Emperor Akihito, who has already passed the eighty-year mark. is the son of the Showa Emperor. He was crowned on the twelfth of November 1990. Every year more than ten thousand people gather at the Emperor's palace in Kyoto and greet him, wishing him further prosperity.

It is worth noting that in Japan for several centuries the Emperor's Birthday has become a national holiday.

Interesting and mysterious eastern country Japan. Holidays and traditions, gods and Emperors. Japan is a place where every object is endowed with a soul, where the goddesses Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi rule in the sky. Country of Buddhism and ancient customs.

It can be difficult for European countries to understand the Japanese vision of the world, but it is impossible not to agree that their history and holidays are breathtaking.

Most of the Japanese archipelago is located in the climatic zone, which is characterized by a pronounced separation of the seasons. Such climatic features provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy natural changes. Numerous festivals associated with the change of seasons will make your trip around the country a truly unforgettable experience. Festivals take place almost daily in any part of the country throughout the year.

Summer is the season for planting rice and the time when the whole country is covered with a green dress. The green leaves of cherries, maples, oaks and chestnuts in the mountain forests contrast with the dark color of evergreen pines and tender bamboo sprouts barely emerging from the ground. Summer is fireworks season. Almost every evening, bright fireworks are arranged throughout Japan, colorfully enlivening the night sky. In summer, large-scale spectacular festivals are held in every corner of the country, many with colorful accompaniment of folk dances. Dances such as "Bon odori" are a great way to entertain and relax local residents, their friends and guests.

Mid June Sanno Matsuri of Hie Shrine in Tokyo. Parade with portable temples through the busy streets of the Akasaka area. It is held once every two years.
The second Saturday in June is the Umakko Tyagu-Tyagu Horse Festival in Morioka, during which a parade of beautifully dressed horses is held.
July 7 National Tanabata Festival, or Star Festival. It is held on the largest scale in the city of Sendai. During the festival, bamboo poles with colorful strips of paper attached to them are placed in front of the doors of houses and gates of gardens.
Mid-July (within 15 days) Fourth sumo wrestling tournament, Nagoya.
July 13-15(or August, depending on the regions of the country) Week of Remembrance of the Dead O-Bon. Religious rituals are held throughout the country in memory of the dead. Folk dances "Bon-odori" are performed in order to calm the souls of the dead.
the 14 th of July Nachi Temple's Himatsuri Festival, or Nachi-Katsuura Fire Festival, during which a procession of white-clad priests carrying 12 large torches is held.
July 1-15 Hakata Gion Yamagata Festival in Fukuoka. The peak of the holiday falls on July 15, when a procession of giant palanquins is held.
July 16-17 Gion Matsuri, the largest festival in Kyoto, has been celebrated since the ninth century. The main streets are paraded with huge, lavishly decorated palanquins.
Last Saturday in July A grand display of fireworks over the Sumida River, Tokyo. July or August The Kangensai Music Festival at Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, during which dances are held to the accompaniment of palace music.
July 24-25 Tenjin Matsuri, or Tenjin Temple Festival in Osaka. There is a demonstration of miniature temples transported by boat along the river. Dojima.
August 1-7 The Nebuta Matsuri Festival in Aomori (August 2-7) and the Neputa Matsuri Festival in Hirosaki (August 1-7), during which parades of huge luminous figures mounted on wheeled platforms are held.
August 3-6 Kanto Matsuri Festival in Akita. Known for the parade, when participants carry long bamboo poles, with numerous paper lanterns suspended from them.
August 5-7 Hanagasa Matsuri Festival in Yamagata, during which about 10,000 townspeople dressed in traditional straw hats, decorated with colorful artificial flowers, perform folk dances.
August 12-15 Awa-odori folk dance festival in Tokushima. Day and night the whole city is filled with the sounds of songs and dances.
August 16 Diamondji Bonfire. On a mountain overlooking Kyoto, numerous bonfires are kindled in the form of the character "Dai" (Big, great).

Spring is the season for plum and cherry blossoms.. From the first days of March, when plums begin to bloom, until the end of May, when the last cherry blossoms fall in the northern regions, spring awakens the natural world and makes people happy.
Spring in Japan literally means the time of flowering, when you can see all the magnificent variety of forms and types of flowers. Camellia, iris, lotus and mustard bloom especially luxuriantly. Numerous flower festivals are held everywhere.

March 1-14 Omizutori, or Water Taking Ceremony Festival at Todaiji Temple, Nara. The ceremony is very spectacular, takes place by the light of pine torches and culminates on the night of March 12th.
March, 3rd Hina Matsuri, or Puppet Festival. It is celebrated throughout the country as a home holiday. In families where there are girls, richly decorated traditional dolls are exhibited.
March 13 Kasuga Matsuri Festival at Kasuga Temple in Nara. Classical dances have been performed for thousands of years. Mid-March (within 15 days) Second Sumo Wrestling Tournament, Osaka
1-30 April Miyako odori, or cherry blossom dance, Kyoto. Japanese traditional dances are performed by "maiko" - apprentice geishas.
April 8 Hana matsuri, or flower festival. It is held in all Buddhist temples to commemorate the birthday of the Buddha.
April 14-15 Takayama Matsuri, or the feast of Hie Shrine in Takayama with a parade of huge platforms - models of temples.
April 16-17 Yayoi Matsuri, a celebration of Futarasan Temple in Nikko. A parade of magnificently decorated platforms - models of temples - is arranged.
May 3-4 Hakata Dontaku in Fukuoka. A well-known holiday, when a parade of legendary gods is arranged on horseback.
May 3-5 Kite battles in Hamamatsu. The competition consists in the art of flying huge kites in order to make your opponent's kite descend.
5 May National Children's Day. Notable for hanging colorful images of carps swaying in the spring wind.
May 11 Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River, Gifu (until October 15).
May 15 Aoi matsuri, or marshmallow festival in Kyoto. It is a magnificent sight.
Mid-May (within 15 days) Third Sumo Tournament, Tokyo Mid-May Kanda Matsuri, or Kanda Myojin Temple Festival in Tokyo (held every odd year). A procession ceremony is held with a dozen sacred mikoshi palanquins. May 17-18 The main festival of Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. It is notable for the procession with portable palanquins "mikosi", in which more than a thousand people take part. Third Sunday in May Mifune Matsuri on the Oi River, Kyoto. There is a parade of old boats. Third Sunday in May, preceded by Friday and Saturday. Sanja Matsuri is the festival of the Asakusa Temple, during which a procession is held with three large and more than a hundred small portable temples.

AUTUMN - the time of wilting leaves and harvest
If summer in many parts of the country lasts until September, then in October in most regions of Japan you can enjoy the invigorating coolness of autumn days.
Autumn in Japan brings with it a kaleidoscopic variation in foliage color, whose vibrant hues from crimson and gold to bronze and yellow color the surrounding hills and mountains in colorful carpets. The harvest season is coming. Rice fields turn golden in rural areas. Sheaves of grain will soon be stacked or hung on poles for later drying and processing. Autumn in Japan is also the time of numerous festivals, sports and cultural events held throughout the country.

16 of September Yabusame is a festival of the art of archery on horseback. Hosted at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine in Kamakura. Mid September(within 15 days) Fifth Sumo Wrestling Tournament, Tokyo
October 7-9 The Kunti Festival of the Suwa Temple in Nagasaki, during which a Chinese-style dragon dance is performed.
October 7-10 The Takayama Matsuri of Hachimangu Temple is notable for the parade of colorful palanquins.
Mid October The city festival in Nagoya is significant for the procession through the streets of the city of people dressed in the clothes of feudal princes. October 14-15 The Kenka Matsuri, or Scandal Festival, takes place at the Matsubara Shinto Shrine in Himeji. The peak of the festival falls on October 15th.
Mid October- mid-November Exhibitions of chrysanthemums in the temples of Meiji and Asakusa Kannon in Tokyo.
17 October Autumn festival at Toshogu Temple in Nikko with a procession of sacred palanquins accompanied by armed attendants.
22 of October The Jidai Matsuri, or "Festival of the Ages", of the Heian Shrine in Kyoto is one of the city's three great festivals.
22 of October Yuki Temple Fire Festival, Kurame in Kyoto. It is notable for the lined up long rows of torches on the way to the temple.
November 2-4 The Okunti Festival of Karatsu Shrine in Saga is famous for the beautiful parade of colorful palanquins.
the 3rd of November Daimyo Gyoretsu festival in Hakone, which is a realistically reproduced procession of the feudal rulers of the past.
Mid November The Tori-no-ichi festival at the Otori Temple in the Kanto area. Known as a popular folk festival with a fair.
Mid November(within 15 days) Sixth Sumo Wrestling Tournament, Fukuoka.

15th of November The Shichi-go-san holiday, or the holiday of children who are 7, 5 and 3 years old. On this day, children of this age are taken to temples to express gratitude to the deities who take care of the health of children.

WINTER - the season of snow pleasure

Winter in Japan, with the exception of its northern part, is not very severe. Sunny days and blue skies are common.
In the northern regions, various festivals dedicated to snow and ice are held. Tourists, as well as locals, admire the huge snow and ice sculptures and participate in local seasonal holidays and rituals. Numerous rituals and fairs take place throughout the country on the eve of the New Year, the most important day for the people of the country.

December 15-18 On-matsuri festival of the Kasuga Temple in Nara, during which a masquerade procession is held.
December 17-19 Hagoita-ichi (racquet fair) at Asakusa Kanon Temple in Tokyo.
Dec. 31 Okera Mairi Festival at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. Holy Fire Ceremony.
Dec. 31 Namahage ritual in Oga Peninsula, Akita Prefecture. Men in the guise of devils knock on houses where there are children.
January 1 New Year. January 1st to 3rd almost all firms, enterprises and companies are closed. In families, celebrating the New Year, they enjoy traditional dishes, wear the best kimonos or other formal clothes, visit Shinto and Buddhist temples, where they pray for health and happiness in the coming year.
6th January Dedzomesiki, or New Year's Eve parade of Tokyo firefighters performing acrobatic stunts from the very top of tall fire escapes.
Mid-January (within 15 days) First sumo wrestling tournament, Tokyo.
The Day Before Coming of Age Bonfires are lit on Mt. Wakakusayama, Nara.
Early February (within 7 days) Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The most famous snow festival in Japan with many huge, expertly made snow and ice sculptures.
Early or mid-February Snow festivals in Asahikawa, Abashiri and other cities of Hokkaido.
February 3 or 4 Setsubun (Spring Eve) or Bean Scattering Festival. Held at leading temples throughout Japan.
February 3 or 4 Kasuga Lantern Festival, Nara.
February 16-17 Bonden Festival in Yokote, Akita. Dozens of Bonden figures, symbols of the god of Creation, are carried by young men.
February 15-16 Kamakura Matsuri celebration in Yokote, Akita. Snow dwellings are built in honor of the God of water.
3 Saturday February Eyo festival or Hadaka matsuri (naked festival) at Saidaiji Temple, Okayama.

National holidays:

1st of January- New Year's Day
2nd Monday in January- coming of age day
11 February- Day of foundation of the state
March 21 (or 20)- Day of spring equinox
April 29- Green Day
May 3- Constitution day
5 May- Children's Day
3rd Monday in July- Sea Day
3rd Monday in September- Honoring the Elderly Day
September 23 (or 24)- Day of the autumnal equinox
2nd Monday in October- Health and Sports Day
the 3rd of November- Culture Day
November 23- Labor Day
December 23- Emperor's birthday