Colors of Kyoto - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Kyoto is a unique city of festivals - beautiful celebrations are carried out here almost every month. Many celebrations have a long history; a large part of them are devoted to the important religious holidays and historical events. Preparing for the next festival is an important and long-awaited event for all local residents. Citizens have always been active in the organization of cultural events; they adorn city streets and construct public scene at their own expense and consider it their direct duty. All holiday activities are taken as important cultural traditions, and therefore they are treated with such reverence and attention.

One of the most interesting events is Hollyhock, which focuses on two urban sanctuaries, Kamigamo and Simogamo. The first festival was held in the middle of the 6th century; under the Emperor’s edict locals had to bring gifts to the shrine for a deity and ask it to give a bountiful harvest. Beautiful holiday has become a tradition; nowadays it is usual to present gifts for gods during the festival. Colorful dance performances have equal importance in context of celebration.

In July Gion Festival traditionally takes place; it lasts for all month and includes a variety of cultural and recreational activities. Festive parades and concerts, children's performances and culinary contests, fairs and sporting events are held, as event program is kept by the hour. Interesting events are held in the old part of the city; in the evening some old family houses arrange a kind of open days. Everyone is welcome to visit mansions that have belonged to noble families for many centuries and enjoy the unique family heirlooms. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the last days of October, the Festival of the Ages is held that involves a huge number of local residents. The main event of the festival is a colorful parade, where more than 150,000 people take part. Citizens dressed in beautiful old costumes walk along main streets of the city, some of them are riding horses, dressed in festive attire. Solemn national costumes that can be seen during the parade symbolize different ages of feudal rule. In addition to the parade, visitors of festival will watch interesting performances and events dedicated to important historical events.

Throughout April, visitors to Kyoto have the opportunity to watch charming dances of real geisha (geiko) and their students (maiko). The festival is colorfully called “Miyako Odori”, which translates from Japanese as “dances of the capital” (in this case Kyoto is meant as the cultural capital of the Land of the Rising Sun). Geisha dance in kabuki theaters, while large-scale performances are held at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater. Attending the festival is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the multifaceted Japanese culture. It is worth noting that this event is popular among both tourists and residents of other Japanese cities flocking to Kyoto during April.

Another interesting festival taking place in the cultural capital of Japan is called Setsubun Matsuri. It is held at the beginning of February, marking the end of the winter season. Since the holiday has religious overtones, it is held in temples where theatrical performances are organized, in which some participants portray demons, while others act as deities. The latter, in turn, cast out demons who had been with humans for a long time during the winter.

Another interesting holiday is the Daimonji Gozan Okuribi, which is annually celebrated in the middle of the hot August. Three days before the holidays, locals meet the souls of their deceased ancestors, and on the day of the celebration, they see them off to where they came from. This tradition is known as "Urabon'e". Lights are lit in the mountains around Kyoto (and it must be said that each has its own meaning). Each fire should burn for at least half an hour - this is done so that the spirits cannot get lost in the darkness of the night. After the ceremony, the ancestors' souls will be able to quietly enter the world of the dead, leaving our world for a whole year. The lights are striking in their beauty, and it’s best to admire them from a viewing platform in the center of the Japanese cultural capital.

One more festival with the involvement of the fire is called Kurama no Hi Matsuri, which can be translated as the “Kurama Fire Festival”. It is scheduled for late October, and the venue, as the name suggests, is Mount Kurama. At this time, visitors are waiting to see men dressed in loincloths carry giant torches over themselves. The spectacle is fascinating with its scale and colorfulness, and therefore visitors are advised to take more comfortable places and watch the action. On the same day, another holiday is celebrated - Jidai Matsuri, during which local residents wearing traditional costumes walk from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. This is another interesting parade, through which you can get to know the local culture.