24 Solar Terms No. 19 [Beginning of Winter]

The beginning of winter.

According to the calendar, it's winter. The daytime sunlight weakens, the air gets colder, and the signs of winter begin to appear. News of the first cold winds and the first snows gradually arrive, and gradually the first frosts fall, and the atmosphere quickly changes to one of winter.


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

[Events and customs marking the beginning of winter]

❖1. Beginning of Winter

●Customs of the beginning of winter●
●The origin and history of Inoko Day●
●Food for the beginning of winter (Boar's Day)●
●Robiraki (opening the hearth)●

❖2. Kamiarizuki (Month of the Gods)

●Why do gods gather together?●
●Kamiari Festival●
●Some gods do not 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 of the Year Around the Beginning of Winter❖

❖1. Beginning of Winter -Ritto-

The days when the four seasons begin, including Risshun (the beginning of winter), Rikka (the beginning of summer), Risshu (the beginning of autumn), and Rittou (the beginning of winter), 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 we 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 "when the seasons change, 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 when the seasons change.

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]
Boys' Festival: Protecting boys and celebrating their growth at the beginning of summer

It has been considered a very auspicious event to be able to safely reach the season.

In addition, New Year's Eve, which marks the boundary between the new year and marks a major turning point in the year, is said to be the day when demons appear (New Year's Eve = Ushitora-ma = Tohoku = the gate from which demons appear, or Kimon), and the custom of decorating boys with a hamayumi bow and girls with a hagoita battledore to protect babies and children from evil spirits and disasters during the New Year holidays remains.
These Hamaya 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 one's life.

●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 is a harvest festival held on the first boar day of the boar month, and is a culture that is mainly practiced in western Japan.

　

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

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

●The origin and history of "Inoko Day"●

It originates from an ancient Chinese imperial court ceremony called "Inoko Iwai," which was held 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 ( in western Japan), it became popular as a harvest festival, as it coincides with the rice harvest season. Mochi is pounded and offered as an offering to return the rice field god and the Inoko god to the mountains.

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

●Inoko Ceremony Food●

One of the sweets eaten on Boar's Day is "Inoko Mochi."
Inoko mochi is a rice cake filled with grains and has 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 a popular seasonal delicacy.

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

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 Inoko Mochi on the day of the boar in the month of the boar, at the hour of the boar (9pm - 11pm).

●Robiraki (opening the hearth)●

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 (ro) is opened. Tea ceremonies are held over the ro for six months, from November until May of the following spring. It is also called the New Year of the Tea Ceremony, as it coincides with the time of Kuchikiri, when the first tea picked in the spring of that year is used.

　

  

 

 

❖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 the month of October on the lunar calendar is commonly called "Kami-nazuki" (Month without Gods) because of the legend that gods from all over the country gather in Izumo. Conversely, Izumo, where many gods gather, came to be called "Kami-arizuki" (Month with Gods).

●Why do gods gather together?●

In October of the lunar calendar, the eight million gods from all over Japan gather at Izumo Taisha Shrine to hold the Kamiari Festival, where they deliberate on various matters. It is said that during these divine meetings, various matters related to human relationships are decided, and Izumo Taisha is 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 from October 10th on the lunar calendar, and for about seven days from around November 10th on the Gregorian calendar, about one month later. 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 the gods from all over the country.
The Kamimukae Ritual and Kamimukae 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 subsidiary shrine of Izumo Taisha, to discuss 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' meetings or lodgings, so the local people do not perform singing or dancing, play musical instruments, or build houses, and they aim to maintain complete silence, so the festival is also called ``Oimisai'' (Oimisai).

3. "Enmusubi Taisai" (Grand Marriage Festival)
It is held in conjunction with the festival held on the day of the Kamiari Festival, when various matchmaking gods hold discussions. 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 happiness in love for the people of the world.


4. "Karasadesai" (Festival for the Departure of the Gods)
At 4pm on the final day, the 17th, the procession of the gods is moved from the 19 shrines on the east and west sides of the Izumo Taisha grounds to the worship hall, where the Karasadesai (Departure Ceremony for the Gods) is held to see them 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 festivals known as the Kamiari Festival, various ceremonies and events are held in Izumo city and the surrounding area. These events strongly reflect the local culture and traditions, making this a time when visitors can fully experience the charm of Izumo.

　

　

●Some gods do not attend the Kamiari Festival●

Because of the names "Kamiarizuki" and "Kannazuki," the gods from all over the country go to Izumo during this time, and it can seem like a "month without gods," but don't worry, there are gods who look after the area while the gods are away.

・Household gods such as Ebisu, Konpira, the hearth god, and Jizo, who are established in houses. In some areas, Daikoku is also included as a member.
These gods are familiar to people and are called "absentee gods," as they are close to people's lives and always watch over us.

　

❖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 Shichi-Go-San lie in the Heian period ceremonies of "Kamioki" at age 3, "Hakama" at age 5, and "Obi-hiki" at age 7.
In the past, infant mortality was so high that it was said that "children up to the age of seven were children of God," and it is said that this tradition began as people visiting shrines to express gratitude for their children having survived infancy and grown up safely, and to pray for the long and healthy lives of their children.
Additionally, since ancient times, November 15th has been considered an auspicious day for celebrations other than weddings, as it is the day of the 27 constellations on which demons are said not to roam, and this is also said to be the origin of November 15th.
In addition, November 15th, 1st year of Tenwa era, is said to be the day when a ceremony to pray for the health of Tokugawa Tokumatsu, the son of the fifth shogun of the Edo period, was held, 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 each child: the "Kamioki-no-gi" ceremony for three-year-olds, the "Hakama-gi-no-gi" ceremony for five-year-olds, and the "Obi-tie-no-gi" ceremony for seven-year-olds, 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 and even numbers negative, so celebrations began to be held in odd-numbered years, which were considered auspicious.

What are the "Kamiokinogi" (hair-laying ceremony), "Hakama-gi" (hakama-wearing ceremony), and "Obi-tienogi" (belt-untying ceremony) ceremonies?

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

Three-year-old hair-laying ceremony: This is celebrated for both boys and girls.
　

During the Heian period, it was believed that shaving a baby's hair would prevent illness and encourage healthy hair to grow later, and there was a custom of both boys and girls having their hair shaved until they were three years old.
Kamioki is a ceremony held on a boy's third birthday to tie his hair and for girls to grow their hair long and beautifully.
In ancient rituals, white hair made from thread was placed on the head, powdered and combed, with the hope that the person would live long enough to have their hair turn completely white.

Five years old: Hakamagi ceremony: celebrated by boys.
　

The age of five marks the turning point when a boy turns from a boy to a young man, and is said to be the beginning of a celebration called "hakama-gi," in which boys wear hakama for the first time as the first step into adulthood. After wearing hakama-gi, boys will go on to wear haori hakama. Originally a ceremony only held at the Imperial Court during the Heian period, it gradually spread and became a tradition among samurai and commoners alike.

　

Seven years old: Obitoki (untying of the obi): A celebration for girls.
　

It is said that the origin of the seventh birthday celebration for girls is a celebration called "Obi-tsuke," in which girls who had previously worn kimonos with strings put on a full obi sash, the traditional adult attire, for the first time. After untying the obi, girls are accepted by society and take their first step towards becoming an adult woman. The origins of this ceremony are very old, dating back to the Kamakura period.

When it first began among the nobility during the Muromachi period, there was no "Hakama-wearing Ceremony," and it is said that 9-year-old boys and girls celebrated on an auspicious day in November. Later, in samurai families, the ceremony was celebrated at the age of 5 for boys and 4 for girls, but from the mid-Edo period onwards, boys began wearing hakama at the age of 5. For girls, the "Obi-tie Ceremony" was held at the age of 7, and it became an annual celebration.


In addition, the Imperial family holds ceremonies called "Kikyu Hakama no Gi" and "Fukasogi no Gi" at the age of five to celebrate a child's growth.

●It's important to prepare early for events!●