For Jinja Honcho, Association of Shrines, the summer solstice is one of the ‘major annual household events in Japan’. Around June 21 is Geshi (the Summer Solstice), they say, “The day when the daytime is the longest and nighttime shortest.” Yet curiously very little happens by way of celebration. There’s probably more awareness and more solstice events in the West now because of the neo-pagan movement. (See the parade at Santa Barbara for instance, or the big festivals at Stonehenge and Glastonbury.)
Over at Ise, however, a major ritual takes place at daybreak on the morning of the summer solstice when hundreds of people enter into the sea to greet the rising sun as it appears between the sacred rocks of Futami Meoto Iwa. By way of celebration, then, let me re-post some of the images I took of the event there, and to wish all the readers of Green Shinto a very joyful summer solstice.
Preparation exercises at dawn
Lining up to enter into the sea
Filing past the rocks
Waiting for the arrival of the sun goddess
Here she comes...
between the sacred rocks symbolisiing the primal pair, Izanagi and Izanami
Prayer rituals
An invigorating and uplifting way to welcome the summer solstice, longest day of the year
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