December Festivals in Japan

If you like celebrating, Japan is definitely the place to be. Each month offers a variety of festivals -- celebrations called Matsuri (maat-sue-ree)

Matsuri have their roots in the Shinto faith. Over the years, matsuri have remained as spiritual ceremonies either for communing with the kami (deities), purification rites, praying for good health, bountiful harvests or to ward off natural disasters. Further along in Japanese history, beliefs found in Buddhism and the Samurai class made their way into matsuri. Today, there are some events which are modern - even commerical, but all within the same context of original matsuri. Matsuri contain both spiritual celebrations as well as opportunities for communities to celebrate with one another, relax and play games - like a town picnic.

December 3 - Chichibu Yo Matsuri, Chichibu Shrine, Saitama. A night festival and parade of huge beautiful lanterns through the streets of Saitama. Fireworks are also used in this exciting festival.

December 14 - A parade held In honor of the 47 Ronin, who avenged the death of their master Lord Asano. Parade participants appear in traditional samurai dress. December 14th is the date the ronin committed seppuku (ritual suicide) after taking the head of Lord Kira. Also celebrated in Tokyo at the burial place of the 47 Ronin - Sengakuji Temple.

December 17 - December 18 Kasuga Wakamiya Festival. This festival in Nara has taken place for over 850 years. Centered around the deity Ame-no-Oshikumone-no-Mikoto, A great chance to see the traditional performing arts of Japan: Bugaku, Kagura, and Noh, which according to the festival website, has its origin in this festival.

December 23 - Japanese Emperor's birthday

December 31 - The largest celebration of the year - NEW YEAR'S EVE ("Oshogatsu"). Japan considers the New Year celebration to be the most important of the year. The week leading up to January 1st is spent cleaning the house - getting rid of the old - to make way for the new. What occurs on the 1st of the year is ominous for the rest of the new year, so you want to be careful not to have anything unfortunate happen on this most important days of the year. New Year's day is spent visiting family, friends, and shrines and temples. Special foods are prepared for this holiday - very delicious indeed. Money is given as gifts between family members. This monetary gift is called Otoshi-dama. All monetary gifts are given in specially decorated envelopes. The envelope for New Year's gifts are very festive.

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This content was written by Melanie Shintaku. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission.

 

For more information on Japan's history:

View photos of the burial place of the 47 Ronin in Tokyo - photos section - or stop by our links page for more information on Japan and her arts.

Tokugawa Lineage
Kublai Khan and Japan
Samurai Archives