At the end of June, many shrines hold an ancient Japanese purification rite called Nagoshi no Harae. In this ceremony started in the Nara period, people atone for their sins in the first half of the year and then … Read the rest
Category: Rites and celebrations (Page 9 of 11)
May 5 is Tango no Sekku (Children’s Day), though traditionally it is a Boy’s Festival. Sekku means a seasonal festival (there are five ‘sekku’ in the year), and Tango no Sekku was originally imported from China to drive away evil … Read the rest
By now most people have heard of the Ise celebrations this year for the completion of its 20 year shikinen sengu cycle of renewal. The buildings will have been reconstructed, the furnishings remade, and the long series of … Read the rest
The cherry blossom by my house are in full bloom at the moment, a reminder of the joys of spring. Celebrating the yearly round is an important part of pagan traditions, which signifies our connection with the seasonal cycle … Read the rest
Nakedness used to play a vital role in Japanese festivals and fertility rites. Under the influence of the sex-obsessed cultures of the West, it has been sadly downplayed or even thought shameful by some. But the so-called Hadaka Matsuri (Naked … Read the rest
The spring equinox is celebrated in Japan with Shunbun no hi, a national holiday. It was established in 1948 as a day for the admiration of nature and the love of living things. Prior to 1948, the vernal equinox was
The picture today in Japan Today is of a Shinto wedding at Meiji Jingu in Tokyo. I don’t have statistics to hand, but I’ve heard there’s a slight trend back towards Shinto-style weddings in recent years, after the fashion … Read the rest