24 solar terms No. 19 [The beginning of winter]

The beginning of winter.

It's winter according to the calendar. The daytime sunlight is getting weaker, the air is getting colder, and we can feel the signs of winter. We gradually hear the first cold winds and the first snowfall, and gradually the first frost falls, and the weather is quickly changing into a winter atmosphere.


Now, let us introduce some of the events and ways to spend the winter season.

[Events and customs around the beginning of winter]

❖1. The beginning of winter

●Customs of the beginning of winter●
●The origin and history of Inoko Day●
●Food for the start of winter (Boar's cub)●
●Opening the furnace●

❖2. Kamiarizuki (Month of the Gods)

●Why do gods gather together?●
●Kamiari Festival●
●Some gods don't attend the "Kamiari Festival"●

❖3. Shichi-Go-San

●The origin and history of Shichi-Go-San●
●What are the three ceremonies of "Shichi-Go-San"?●

❖4. The 72 Seasons around the Beginning of Winter❖

❖1. The Beginning of Winter

The days when the four seasons begin, including the beginning of winter, are called the beginning of spring (Risshun), the beginning of summer (Rikka), the beginning of autumn (Risshu), and the beginning of winter (Ritto), and collectively they are called the "Four Beginnings."

The day before a season begins, there is Setsubun, which marks the division of seasons (for example, separating summer from autumn).
When people think of Setsubun, the most famous one is the one that falls on the day before the beginning of spring, but there are actually four Setsubuns a year, each marking a turning point in each of the four seasons.

Since ancient times, it has been believed that "at the change of seasons, plague spirits bring illness and disaster to the people, and evil spirits (demons) are born," and annual events such as the bean-throwing ceremony held on Setsubun in February and festivals based on warding off evil spirits always take place at the change of seasons.

However, since babies and children are more likely to be exposed to seasonal changes, there are many events that are incorporated in conjunction with seasonal changes.
Between the vernal equinox and the beginning of spring, girls are protected and their growth is celebrated [Peach Festival]
The beginning of summer is a time to protect boys and celebrate their growth [Tango no Sekku]

Reaching the season safely has been considered a very auspicious event.

In addition, New Year's Eve, which marks the boundary between the new year and is a major turning point in the year, is said to be the day when demons appear (New Year's Eve = Ushi-Tora-ma = Tohoku = the gate from which demons appear, the Kimon), and the custom of decorating boys with a hamayumi bow and girls with a hagoita shuttlecock to protect babies and children from evil spirits and disasters during the New Year holidays remains.
These Hamayumi and Hagoita are known to be powerful talismans, so there is a custom of bringing them as talismans to ward off evil spirits at the Shichi-Go-San ceremony, which marks a turning point in age.

▼ Learn more about "Shiryu" ▼

●Customs of the beginning of winter●

Around the beginning of winter there is a day called "Inoko".
Boar refers to the Chinese zodiac sign of the pig, which corresponds to October in the lunar calendar and November in the Gregorian calendar.
Inoko no Hi refers to a harvest festival held on the first boar day of the boar month, and is a culture that is mainly observed in western Japan.

　

Since ancient times, the Japanese calendar and time have been introduced from China and are often based on the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. The "Month of the Boar" is October in the lunar calendar, but even though "Boar" is the 12th of the Chinese zodiac, why is the Month of the Boar not December?

In ancient times, the beginning of the year was the winter solstice.
The winter solstice, when the night is the longest and the sun's time to rise is the shortest, is said to be the day closest to death, and has been considered a major turning point as "the day the sun begins."

●The origin and history of "Inoko Day"●

It originates from an ancient Chinese imperial court ceremony called "Inoko Iwai" to pray for good health. In the Inoko Iwai, it was believed that eating rice cakes containing grains on the month, day and hour of the boar would keep you from getting sick.
The "Inoko celebration" was introduced to Japan during the Heian period as an imperial court event and spread among the nobility. Later, when it spread to the general public, it became popular as a harvest festival because it coincided with the rice harvest season (in western Japan). Mochi is pounded and offered as an offering to the god of the fields and the god of the Inoko to return them to the mountains.

"Ino" represents the animal boar, and as boars are prolific, this event is also celebrated as a prayer for the prosperity of descendants and the growth of children.

●Inoko ceremonial food●

One of the sweets eaten on the day of the Boar's Rat is "Inoko Mochi."
Inoko mochi is a rice cake containing grains and a light brown color. It is a Japanese sweet with a motif of a wild boar and a baby boar called a uribou, and is loved as a seasonal feature.

The history of "Inoko Mochi" dates back to ancient China along with the "Inoko celebration." In rural areas, it was made from grains harvested that year and presented as an offering to the gods at harvest festivals.

In Japan, it was first mentioned in the Tale of Genji, where it is described as a rice cake made with seven types of flour: soybeans, adzuki beans, cowpeas, sesame seeds, chestnuts, persimmons, and sugar.



It is said that it is good to eat Inokomochi on the Boar's Day, Boar's Hour, in the Boar's Month (between 9pm and 11pm).

●Opening the furnace●

One of the events held on the day of the boar is the opening of the hearth.

Among tea masters, on this day, the summer furo (furo) is removed and the ro is opened. Tea ceremonies are held over the ro for half a year, from November to May of the following spring. In addition, since it coincides with the time when the first tea picked in the spring of that year is used, it is also called the New Year of the tea ceremony.

　

  

 

 

❖2. Kamiarizuki (Month of the Gods)

Kannazuki refers to October in the lunar calendar, which corresponds to late October to early December in the Gregorian calendar.
It is said that this month is commonly called "Kannazuki" (Month without Gods) due to the legend that gods from all over Japan gather in Izumo in October of the lunar calendar, and conversely, Izumo, where many gods gather, came to be known as "Kamiarizuki" (Month with Gods).

●Why do gods gather together?●

In the tenth month of the lunar calendar, the eight million gods from all over Japan gather at Izumo Taisha Shrine to hold the "Kamiari Festival," where they hold a divine meeting on various matters. It is said that during the divine meeting, various matters related to human relationships are decided, and Izumo Taisha Shrine is also famous as the shrine for the god of matchmaking, and matchmaking is one of those matters.

 

●Kamiari Festival●

The Kamiari Festival is held for seven days starting from October 10th on the lunar calendar, and for about seven days starting from around November 10th, about one month later on the Gregorian calendar. What kind of festival is the Kamiari Festival?

1. "Kamimukae Shinto Ritual and Festival"

It begins with the Kamimukae Shinji and Kamimukaesai, a ritual to welcome gods from all over the country.
The Kamimukae Ceremony and Festival takes place at 7pm on the 10th. A sacred fire is lit at Inasa Beach, 1km west of Izumo Taisha Shrine, and a dragon and snake god, who acts as a guide for the gods, is placed next to it facing the sea, and the ritual is carried out.

2. "Kamiari Festival"
The Kamiari Festival is a festival where the gods hold a discussion.
From the next day, the 11th to the 17th, divine consultations are held at Kaminomiya, a branch shrine of Izumo Taisha, regarding various matters such as matchmaking and the coming year's harvest.
During this festival, it is said that there must be no misconduct during the gods' meeting or lodgings, so the local people do not perform any singing or dancing, play any musical instruments, or build any houses; they simply maintain silence, and so the festival is also called ``Oimisai'' (Oimisai).

3. "Enmusubi Taisai" (Great Marriage Festival)
It is held in conjunction with the festival on the day of the Kamiari Festival, when various matchmaking divine consultations are held. During the festival, prayers are recited loudly to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and the eight million gods gathered from all over the country, praying for further happy marriages for the people of the world.


4. "Karasadesai" (Festival for the Departure of Gods)
At 4pm on the 17th, the final day, the 19 shrines on the east and west sides of Izumo Taisha Shrine are moved to the worship hall, where the Karasadesai ceremony is held to see the gods off across the country. This marks the end of the gods' stay and their return to their respective regions. Various prayers are offered to express gratitude to the gods, as well as prayers for their safe return.

　

　

　

Throughout the series of ceremonies known as the Kamiari Festival, various ceremonies and events are held in Izumo city and the surrounding areas. The local culture and traditions are strongly reflected in this time, and it is a great opportunity for visitors to fully experience the charm of Izumo.

　

　

●Some gods don't attend the "Kamiari Festival"●

Because the names "Kamiarizuki" and "Kannazuki" refer to the month when all the gods from all over the country go to Izumo during this time, it can seem like a "month without gods." However, there is a god who looks after the area in their absence, so don't worry.

・Ebisu, Konpira, the hearth god, Jizo, and other household gods that are established in houses. In some areas, Daikoku is also included as a member.
These gods are familiar to people and are known as "absent gods," always watching over our daily lives.

　

❖Shichigosan -Shichigosan- ❖

Shichi-Go-San is one of Japan's oldest traditional events.
Although it varies by region, three-year-old girls, five-year-old boys, and seven-year-old girls visit shrines around November 15th. During the visit, they report on their safe growth and offer prayers and thanks for their healthy lives and for their continued healthy growth.

　

●The origin and history of Shichi-Go-San●

The origins of Shichigosan lie in the Heian period ceremonies of "Kami-oki" (hair-cutting) at age 3, "Hakama-wearing" at age 5, and "Obi-hiki" (untying the obi) at age 7.
In the past, infant mortality was so high that it was said that "a child is a child of God until he or she is seven years old," and it is said that this tradition began as people visiting shrines to give thanks for surviving infancy and growing up safely, and to pray for the long and healthy lives of their children.
Also, since ancient times, November 15th has been the day of the 27 constellations when demons are said to not roam, and has therefore been considered an auspicious day for celebrations other than weddings, which is also said to be the origin of the day.
In addition, November 15th, 1270, is said to be the day when a ceremony was held to pray for the health of Tokugawa Tokumatsu, the son of the fifth shogun of the Edo period, and it has become an auspicious day to celebrate children.

Nowadays, Shichi-Go-San is considered to be one event, but in the past, there were three separate events for the three-year-old "Kami-oki no Ceremony," the five-year-old "Hakama-wearing Ceremony," and the seven-year-old "Obi-hiking Ceremony," and the three children's events were collectively called "Shichi-Go-San."
Along with the saying "Until the age of seven, a child is a child of God," it is said that in the past, odd numbers were considered positive numbers and even numbers were considered negative numbers, so the celebration began in odd-numbered years, which were considered auspicious.

What are each of the "Kami-kidding Ceremony," "Hakama-wearing Ceremony," and "Obi-untying Ceremony" ceremonies?

●What are the three ceremonies of "Shichi-Go-San"?●

Three-year-old Hair-Cutting Ceremony: This is celebrated for both boys and girls.
　

During the Heian period, it was said that shaving a baby's hair would prevent illness and encourage healthy hair to grow later, and there was a custom of keeping both boys and girls' heads shaved until the age of three.
Kamioki is a ceremony held on a boy's third birthday to tie his hair and for girls to grow their hair nicely.
In an old ritual, white hair made from thread was placed on the person's head, powdered and combed, with the hope that the person would live long enough for their hair to turn completely white.

Age 5: Hakamagi Ceremony: Celebrated by boys.
　

The age of five marks the turning point when a boy turns into a young boy, and is said to be the beginning of the celebration of "hakama-gi," when a boy puts on hakama for the first time as the first step to becoming an adult. After wearing hakama, boys will start wearing haori hakama. Originally a ceremony only held at the Imperial Court during the Heian period, the ceremony gradually spread and became a part of the samurai and common people alike.

　

Seven years old: Untying the obi (sash): Girls celebrate.
　

It is said that the ceremony began when girls turn seven years old, when they begin to wear kimonos with strings attached, and a celebration called "obi-tei" begins. After obi-tei, girls are recognized by society and take their first step toward becoming adult women. The ceremony is very ancient and has been held since the Kamakura period.

When it first began among aristocrats during the Muromachi period, there was no "Hakama-wearing ceremony," and it is said that 9-year-old boys and girls would celebrate on an auspicious day in November. Later, in samurai families, the celebration took place at ages 5 for boys and 4 for girls, but after the mid-Edo period, boys began wearing hakama at age 5, and girls at age 7 had the "Obi-untying ceremony," making it an annual celebration.


In addition, the Imperial Family holds two ceremonies, the "Kikyuhakama no Gi" and the "Fukasogi no Gi," when a child turns five years old to celebrate their growth.

●It's important to prepare early for any event!●