• The calendar is a landmark of life

    　

    In Japan, not only the changing seasons, but also annual events and lifestyle wisdom have been incorporated into the calendar, and it has become a guide to daily life .

    In addition to months, days of the week, and holidays , the markers of such a lifestyle include calendars such as the 24 solar terms, Goseku, and Zassetsu. The date is included, allowing you to understand the subtle changes in the seasons that cannot be grasped by the date alone.

    Such days that can be read from the calendar are often known as seasonal turning points, or ``Sekku''.

    Seasonal milestones called seasonal festivals

    ``Sekku'' means a turning point in the seasons, and because it is easy to get sick during the change of seasons, it has long been thought to be a time when ``evil spirits'' are likely to enter.

    Festivals also include seasonal milestones such as the first day of spring, Setsubun, and the winter solstice, and that is why there are various customs and ``oniwari'' (devil exorcisms) in such events, culture, and daily life. To protect us from disasters and diseases, we pray for good health and happiness in each season.

    In addition, ``Boy's Festival'' and ``Peach Festival,'' which are also celebratory events for children, are also ``milestones'' as the word suggests. ``Boy's Festival'' is a turning point from spring to summer. ``Peach Festival'' corresponds to ``Keishaku'' (24 solar terms), when animals and insects wake up from hibernation.

    A milestone day is not only about events, culture, lifestyle, and celebrations, but also a time to take care of your family and your own body and reevaluate your lifestyle. For example, decorating and tidying up Hina dolls according to milestones can also help organize your life.

    I feel that the Japanese culture and lifestyle, in which such things are designated as custom days, is the wisdom of people accumulated from generation to generation.

Related CATEGORY

  • What is Gosekku?

    ``Gosekku'' is similar to ``seasonal milestones'' that were introduced from China during the Nara period, and is a culture based on the idea that days on which odd numbers overlap are considered auspicious.


    Since ancient times in Japan, seasonal events and celebrations have been adapted to suit the rhythm of life centered around rice cultivation.

    In the past, there were more festivals than there are now, but in modern times, five festivals have been passed down.

List of five verses

　

People's Day Festival (Nanakusa Festival)

January 7th

[Jin-hi no Sekku] is a day to pray for good health for the coming year, and there is a custom of eating Nanakugayu. It is said to have its origins in ancient Chinese writings, but in Japan there was a practice called ``Wakana-zumi,'' in which young greens were picked at the beginning of the year to receive new life from the natural world.

The decorations for Jinji Festival are the same as for New Year's, such as hagoita and hamayumi .

It is used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits and ensure good health during this turning point.

　

Kamishi no Sekku (Momo no Sekku)

March 3rd

A day to decorate Hina dolls and celebrate the healthy growth of girls.

The decorations for the Kamishi Festival are Hina dolls .

The ritual of purifying oneself in a river to pray for good health was introduced from China, and this was combined with the custom of entrusting one's impurity to a doll (Hitogata) and letting it float down the river, which originally existed in Japan, and gradually changed to the style of displaying dolls. went.

　

Boys' Festival (Iris Festival)

May 5th

　

A day to pray and celebrate the healthy growth of boys.

In modern times, it is also known as "Children's Day."

Decorations for Boy's Festival include May dolls and carp streamers . It is displayed to pray for the healthy growth of boys. The origin of carp streamers is a Chinese legend that says, ``A carp that climbs the strong current of Ryumon Waterfall will become a dragon.'' Carp streamers are decorated with the wish that ``the carp will grow strong and be able to stand up for itself.'' You can

Tanabata Festival (Sasatake Festival)

July 7th

Tanabata was held as an event to pray for the improvement of women's weaving and needlework. In Japan during the Nara period, it was adopted as an event in the imperial court and has remained until the present day.

Tanabata bamboo is used as decorations for the Tanabata Festival . It used to be common to decorate it as a mark pointing towards the god of heaven, and to decorate it by writing Japanese poems on strips of paper, but in modern times it has become mainstream to write wishes on it and tie it together. It is said that bamboo came to be used because it was said to have the effect of warding off evil spirits.

Chrysanthemum Festival (Chrysanthemum Festival)

September 9th

A day to pray for health through the medicinal properties of chrysanthemums.

Hina dolls are among the decorations for the Chrysanthemum Festival.

It is said that the purpose is to bring out your Hina doll and prevent pain. This custom of displaying Hina dolls that had been put away in March once again was called ``Nochino Hina'' (later Hina dolls).

Milestone events for children<Origin and history of celebration events>