Festival (matsuri)

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Festival (matsuri, Japan)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: All Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

The word FESTIVAL, Matsuri (祭り) by itself is a kigo for all summer.

In the month of July there are especially many festivals in Japan. Since the traditional festivals were directed toward the deities to pray for a good harvest, rain, no drought, not too many incects to destroy the harvest and so forth, July was an important season, after the rice planting, to care for the rice paddies.

We have a special section about the meaning and tradition of the matsuri, please read
Festivals of Japan, before you carry on here.

Festivals during other seasons are the Spring festivals, . Autumn Festival (aki matsuri, Japan) ,
and Winter festivals.

Matsuri are an important part of farmers' lives and later of the lives of townfolk, like Kyoto and Edo. There are also many kigo associated with matsuri, let us look at some of them. They are all kigo for all summer.

When it rained during a festival, people took it as a sign that the gods had heared their payers and accepted their offerings, so they were happy about a bit of rain:

おもふさま降りてあがりし祭りかな
omou sama futte agarishi matsuri kana

久保田万太郎 Kubota Mantaro

as it goes ...
a bit of rain, a bit of shine
the festival


Gabi Greve

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portable shrine, mikoshi　神輿、御輿
high portable shrine, dashi　山車
"barrel portable shirne", tarumikoshi　樽御輿
..... Small lightweight shrine for children to carry around


festival drums, matsuri daikoo 祭大鼓
..... Drums in Religious Rituals by Gabi Greve
festival flute, matsuribue　祭笛
festival music, orchestra, matsuribayashi　祭囃子


shirne at night, yoimiya 宵宮
evening shrine festival, yoi matsuri　宵祭
..... Indicating a festival that started in the evening and went on for the next day.


Lanterns for the festival, matsuri choochin　祭提灯
..... Painted with special patterns and figures for a festival.
..... Lanterns (choochin) by Gabi Greve


official festival, hon matsuri 本祭り
simple festival, kage matsuri 蔭祭り
..... Literally: Shadow Festival. This was held in some years as a smaller version than the official one. Sometimes the official festival was every second or sixth year only, to avoid too much splendor or spendings for a community.


cloths for the festival, matsuri-goromo　祭衣
..... Ladies wear light summer kimono or yukata. Men wear happi coats and leggins or other group dresses.
..... Kimono, Yukata, Nagajuban by Gabi Greve



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Worldwide use

Austria

Salzburger Festspiele
Every year in summer the Austrian town Salzburg invites to visit the Salzburg Festival (operas, concerts). Famous musicians, singers from all over the world come to Salzburg and are worth that so many visitors sweat in the queue for tickets.

Angelika Wienert

Here is more information:
http://www.salzburgfestival.at/home_e.php?lang=2

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Things found on the way

Great link to photos of various festivals, with the matsuribayashi, the orchestra of drums and flutes playing. This takes a while but it will get you right in the mood of matsuri.
Listen to it here.



http://wadaphoto.jp/japan/ot4.htm
Copyright (C) 2000-2005 Yoshio Wada.

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HAIKU

夕立に次の祭りの通りけり
yûdachi ni tsugi no matsuri no tôri keri

in a cloudburst
another festival shrine
passes by


御祭りや誰子宝の赤扇
o-matsuri ya taga ko-dakara no aka ôgi

festival day--
some treasured child's
red fan

Issa has more than 25 haiku about various matsuri.
http://webusers.xula.edu/dlanoue/issa/index.html

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樽御輿子供にまじりかつぎけり
tarumikoshi kodomo ni majiri katsugikeri

barrel shrine -
amongst the children
I carry it too

（平成十五年七月　東州句会より）
http://fukami.com/profile/haiku/200307.html

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お神輿を　　川で清めて　　　　秋祈る
omikoshi o 　kawa de kiyomete 　aki inoru

purify the portable shrines
in the river
pray for autumn

Autumn means a good harvest.

.. .. ..

担ぎ手が　江戸面になる　神輿かな
katsugi-te ga Edo-zura ni naru mikoshi kana

> > all carriers
> > became Edo faces -
> > portable shrines

Sakuo Nakamura

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Salzburg Festival -
sweating in the queue
for tickets

Angelika Wienert

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Related words

More religious festivals will be explained here:
Saijiki for Buddhist Events

. Autumn Festival (aki matsuri, Japan)
Chrysanthemum Festival kiku matsuri (Japan)
Juggernaut Festival (India)
Kokuseki-Ji Naked Festival Japan (05)
Sanja Festival at Asakusa Kannon (Japan)
Setsubun (Japan) .. Bean Throwing Festival, February 3
Star Festival (Tanabata, Japan)

Festivals of Japan

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Please send your contributions to Gabi Greve
worldkigo@yahoo.com


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