Quick Okinawa Info
Festivals and Rituals |
Updated on : March 31, 2005 |
Okinawa's festivals, culturally important and rooted in folk customs
Almost all the festivals in Okinawa fall on dates of the lunar calendar. Festivals will have somewhat different names, gods’ appellation, duration and content depending on the different locales in which they are held.
The festivals include those that have come down through oral tradition, festivals originating in Japan and China praying for good fish catches and bountiful harvests, festivals related to the religion of Nirai Kanai (a paradise beyond the sea), festivals worshipping ancestors and festivals of exorcism.
Because of their exceptional cultural and folk history importance, some festivals have been designated as National Important Intangible Cultural assets. Some are important enough that companies give their employees time off to attend or the entire company closes. Below are some typical events.
Usually held between January and February of the solar calendar, the ritual performed on New Year's Day of the lunar calendar will differ from place to place and family to family, but a representative example can be given. the family places colored paper, rice grains, charcoal, Konbu (kelp), money and so forth on the household altar and shrine as offerings of prayer and to Hinukan, the god of fire.
Held in March of the lunar calendar, the Shimi (Seimei sai) festival is one of the lunar calendar 24 seasons brought over from China. Families and relatives gather before the family tomb and present a feast. After the presentation, they enjoy singing and playing the Sanshin (3-stringed guitar-like instrument) while eating together. This is a ritual of respect for their ancestors and it also has the practical effect of giving relatives who may not have seen one another for a while a chance to get together.
Dragon-boat races are held in May of the lunar calendar (May-June of the solar calendar). The name is different in different places - Hari, Hare, etc. This is Okinawa's most common festival, held all over. It is partly a mixture of prayers to the sea gods and for good harvests, partly a chance to enjoy the boat races that are part of it. The sea god festival held in lunar calendar July in Ogimi Village, Shioya is a typical dragon-boat race enduring to the present day. This has a deep connection to the Nirai Kanai beliefs that are widespread in northern Okinawa.
Great tug-of-war rope pulls go on in lunar calendar June and August at various places around Okinawa. Generally, a "male" rope and a "female" rope are firmly joined in the middle, and then East and West teams pull for all they are worth. Anyone can join, so this event is very easy for tourists to participate in. The rope used for Naha's great rope pull on in October each year is in the Guinness Book as the world's largest. A huge crowd generally gathers for this event.
Planting festivals, seed harvest festivals, plus the Eisa and lion-dances of various places contribute greatly to the variety of Okinawa's summer festivals. Typical examples are Kunigami Village, Ada's Shinugu (July), Tarama Island's August Festival (August 8-15), the Sonai festival on Iriomote Island, the Hashitate Shichi (both generally August to September on the lunar calendar), and the seed harvest festival on Taketomi Island in lunar September and October. A Miruku god procession appears at the Taketomi festival and at Iriomote's Shichi. At Miyako Island's Pantu festival, masked figures entirely covered in mud cavort as gods to chase away evil. These festivals are totally unique.
On lunar December 8, people make Mochi (glutinous rice cakes). Mochi is wrapped in Getto or Kuba leaves and presented as an offering for the health of children. Naturally this event is a favorite with the young ones.
Then there is the Hamauri on March 3 and in lunar September the Kajimaya, celebrating those who have reached the great age of 97.
Thus Okinawa is full of festivals and celebrations year-round, with many varied occasions to worship the gods, nature and our ancestors. Although festivals and rites are held in many places, some of these are strictly closed to outsiders, so please be aware of and respect this.
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