Editing Japanese festivals (section)

==Nationwide festivals==

===Fixed days===
*[[Seijin Shiki]]: Coming of Age Day (second Monday of January)
*[[Hinamatsuri]]: Doll Festival (March 3)
*[[Hanami]]: Flower Viewing (late March to early May)
*[[Buddha's Birthday|Hanamatsuri]]: Flower Festival (April 8)
*[[Tanabata]]: Star Festival (July 7)
*[[Shichi-Go-San]]: festival day for children aged seven, five and three (November 15)
*[[Ōmisoka]]: New Year's Eve (December 31)

===Multiple days===
*[[Setsubun]]: division of season (beginning of each of the four seasons) (February 3)
*[[Ennichi]]: temple fair (holidays related to Kami and/or Buddha)

===Bunka===
*[[Japanese Cultural Festival]]

==={{Nihongo|New Year|正月|Shōgatsu}}===
{{main|Japanese New Year}}
Date: January 1–3 (related celebrations take place throughout January)

Other Names: Oshōgatsu (O is an honorific prefix)

Information: New Year observances are the most elaborate of Japan's annual events. Before the New Year, homes are cleaned, debts are paid off, and [[osechi]] (food in lacquered trays for the New Year) is prepared or bought. Osechi foods are traditional foods which are chosen for their lucky colors, shapes, or lucky-sounding names in hopes of obtaining good luck in various areas of life during the new year. Homes are decorated and the holidays are celebrated by family gatherings, visits to temples or shrines, and formal calls on relatives and friends. The first day of the year ([[ganjitsu]]) is usually spent with members of the family.

People try to stay awake and eat [[toshikoshi soba]], noodles to be eaten at midnight. People also visit Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Traditionally{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} three are visited. This is called [[sansha-mairi]]. In the [[Tokyo Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]] at dawn on the 1st, the [[Japanese Emperor|Emperor]] performs the [[Ritual|rite]] of [[shihōhai]] (worship of the four-quarters), in which he offers prayers for the well-being of the nation. On January 2 the public is allowed to enter the inner palace grounds; the only other day this is possible is the [[Emperor's birthday]] (February 23). On the 2nd and 3rd days acquaintances visit one another to extend greetings ([[nenshi (Japan)|nenshi]]) and sip [[otoso]] (a spiced [[rice wine]]). Some games played at New Year's are [[karuta]] (a card game), [[hanetsuki]] (similar to badminton), tako age ([[kiteflying]]), and komamawashi ([[spinning top]]s). These games are played to bring more luck for the year. Exchanging [[New Year's greeting card]]s (similar to [[Christmas Card]]s) is another important Japanese custom. Also special allowances are given to children, which are called [[otoshidama]]. They also decorate their entrances with [[kagami mochi]] (two mochi rice balls placed one on top of the other, with a tangerine on top), and [[kadomatsu]] (pine tree decorations).

A later New Year's celebration, [[Koshōgatsu]], literally means "Small New Year" and starts with the first full moon of the year (around January 15). The main events of Koshōgatsu are rites and practices praying for a bountiful harvest.

==={{Nihongo|[[Hinamatsuri|Doll Festival]]|雛祭り|Hina-matsuri}}===
Date: March 3

Other Names: {{Transliteration|ja|Sangatsu Sekku}} (3rd month Festival), {{Transliteration|ja|Momo Sekku}} (Peach Festival), {{Transliteration|ja|Joshi no Sekku}} (Girls' Festival)

Information: This is the day when families pray for the happiness and prosperity of their girls to help ensure that they grow up healthy and beautiful. The celebration takes place both inside the home and at the seashore. Both parts are meant to ward off evil spirits from girls and women. Young girls and women put on their best [[kimono]] and visit their friends' homes. Tiered platforms for {{Transliteration|ja|hina ningyō}} ({{Transliteration|ja|hina}} dolls; a set of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of {{Transliteration|ja|hishimochi}} (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and {{Transliteration|ja|shirozake}} (rice malt with sake).

==={{Nihongo|[[Hanami]]|花見}}===
[[File:Hanami party, sakura and koi nobori.jpg|thumb|Hanami party along the [[Sakai River (Ōita)|Sakai River]] in [[Beppu]], Oita]]
Date: April

Other Names: Hanami (flower viewing), Cherry Blossom Festival

Information: Various flower festivals are held at Shinto shrines during the month of April. Excursions and picnics for enjoying flowers, particularly cherry blossoms are also common, as well as many drinking parties often to be seen in and around auspicious parks and buildings. In some areas the peach blossom, the traditional flower of Japan (the Cherry being a symbol from the Edo period symbolizing the Samurai culture), is viewed as well though these flowers earlier than the Cherry. In some places flower viewing parties are held on traditionally fixed dates. This is one of the most popular events during spring. The subject of flower viewing has long held an important place in literature, dance, and fine arts. Ikebana (flower arrangement) is also a popular part of Japanese culture and is still practiced by many people today. Some main things people do during this event are games, folk songs, folk dance, flower displays, rides, parades, concerts, kimono shows, booths with food and other things, beauty pageant, and religious ceremonies. Families go out during weekends to see the cherry blossoms, and participate in the many festivals and activities.

==={{Nihongo|[[Buddha's Birthday|Hanamatsuri]]|花祭り}}===
Date: April 8

Other Names: Flower Festival<br />
Information: Hanamatsuri celebrates the birth of the [[Buddha]].  On this day, all temples hold 降誕会 (''Gōtan-e''), 仏生会 (''Busshō-e''), 浴仏会 (''Yokubutsu-e''), 龍華会 (''Ryūge-e'') and 花会式 (''Hana-eshiki''). Japanese people pour ''[[ama-cha]]'' (a beverage prepared from a variety of [[hydrangea]]) on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers, as if bathing a newborn baby. The tradition of bathing the Buddha originated in China and was introduced to Japan where it was first held in [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] in 606.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.meetup.com/pl-PL/buddhism-613/events/59639372/?_cookie-check=q6MkUIbiHx5eZP04|title=Hanamatsuri Service|website=Meetup.com|access-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref> [[Lion dance|Lion dancing]] is also a major tradition practiced during Buddha's Birthday and has become associated with the festival in Japan.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PcvA373XEJwC|title=Asian Material Culture|first1=Marianne|last1=Hulsbosch|first2=Elizabeth|last2=Bedford|first3=Martha|last3=Chaiklin|date=July 30, 2018|publisher=[[Amsterdam University Press]]|isbn=978-90-8964-090-1|access-date=July 30, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>

==={{Nihongo|[[Tanabata]]|七夕}}===
Date: July 7 / August 5–8 (Sendai)

Other Names: The Star Festival<br />
Information: It originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars-the Weaver Star (Vega) and the Cowherd Star (Altair)-who were said to be lovers who could meet only once a year on the 7th night of the 7th month provided it did not rain and flood the Milky Way. It was named Tanabata after a weaving maiden from a Japanese legend, named Orihime who was believed to make clothes for the gods. People often write wishes and romantic aspirations on long, narrow strips of colored paper and hang them on bamboo branches along with other small ornaments.

==={{Nihongo|[[Tōrō nagashi|Japanese Floating Lantern Festival]]|灯籠流し|Tōrō nagashi}}===
Date: July 19

Information: One traditional custom to mark the end of the Bon Festival. Small paper lanterns containing a burning flame are either set afloat to a river, lake or sea or they are let go and float away into the night. Their light is intended to guide the way for deceased family members' spirits. Usually the person who lets the lantern go will write a message on the side.

==={{Nihongo|[[Bon Festival]]|盆|bon}}===
Date: August 13–16

Information: A Buddhist observance honoring the spirits of ancestors. Usually a "spirit altar" (''[[shōryōdana]]'') is set up in front of the [[Butsudan]] (buddhist altar) to welcome the ancestors' souls. A priest may be asked to come and read a [[sutra]] (''tanagyō''). Among the traditional preparations for the ancestors' return are the cleaning of grave sites. The welcoming fire (''mukaebi'') built on the 13th and the send-off fire (''okuribi'') built on the 15th and 16th are intended to guide the ancestor's spirits back to their permanent dwelling place.

==={{Nihongo|[[Leaf peeping|Momijigari]]|紅葉狩}}===
Date: October-

Information: The Japanese tradition of going to visit [[:wikt:scenic|scenic]] areas where [[leaves]] have turned red in the Autumn.  The tradition is said to have originated in the Heian era as a cultured pursuit.

==={{Nihongo|[[Pocky & Pretz Day|Pocky no Hi]]|ポッキーの日}}===
Date: November 11

Information: The Japanese tradition of buying and eating [[Pocky]] sticks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://japonandmore.com/2017/11/12/el-11-de-noviembre-es-el-pocky-day-en-japon/|title=Pocky No Hi – Día del Pocky en Japón|website=japonandmore.com|date=November 12, 2017 |language=es}}</ref>

==={{Nihongo|"7-5-3" Festival|七五三|[[Shichi-Go-San]]}}===
Date: November 15

Information: Three- and seven-year-old girls and five-year-old boys are taken to the local shrine to pray for their safe and healthy future. This festival started because of the belief that children of certain ages were especially prone to bad luck and hence in need of divine protection. Children are usually dressed in traditional clothing for the occasion and after visiting the shrine many people buy ''chitose-ame'' ("thousand-year candy") sold at the shrine.

===Preparation for the New Year and Year-end fair===
Date: late December

Other Names: {{Nihongo|Year-end|年の瀬|toshi no se}}, {{Nihongo|Year-end Fair|年の市|Toshi no Ichi}}

Information: Preparations for seeing in the new year were originally undertaken to greet the [[toshigami]], or deity of the incoming year. These begin on December 13, when the house was given a thorough cleaning; the date is usually nearer the end of the month now. The house is then decorated in the traditional fashion: A sacred rope of straw (shimenawa) with dangling white paper strips (shide) is hung over the front door to prevent evil spirits from entering and to show the presence of the toshigami. It is also customary to place kadomatsu, an arrangement of tree sprigs, beside the entrance way. A special altar, known as toshidana ("year shelf"), is piled high with kagamimochi (flat, round rice cakes), sake (rice wine), persimmons, and other foods in honor of the toshigami. A fair is traditionally held in late December at shrines, temples or in local neighborhoods. This is in preparation for the new year holidays. Decorations and sundry goods are sold at the fair. Originally these year-end fairs provided opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and mountain dwellers to exchange goods and buy clothes and other necessities for the coming year.

==={{Nihongo|[[Ōmisoka]]|大晦日|Ōmisoka}}===
Date: December 31 ([[New Year's Eve]])

Information: People do the general house cleaning ([[Ōsōji]]) to welcome coming year and not to keep having impure influences. Many people visit Buddhist temples to hear the temple bells rung 108 times at midnight ([[Joya no Kane|joya no kane]]). This is to announce the passing of the old year and the coming of the new. The reason they are rung 108 times is because of the Buddhist belief that human beings are plagued by 108 earthly desires or passions ([[bonnō]]). With each ring one desire is dispelled. It is also a custom to eat [[toshikoshi soba]] in the hope that one's family fortunes will extend like the long noodles.