|
A YEAR IN OKINAWA @@@ Kyoko Nakamoto There held various kind of ceremonies and cultural event throughout the year in Okinawa.They have many distinctive features. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ January gMuchih:Make grice-cakehwrapped with Ginger leaf for driving away especially new birth babiefs evils and pray for the health of children. FebruaryhSakura-matsurih: Japanfs earliest cherry tree blossoms here in Okinawa.Cherry blossom Festival in Yaedake where the northern district of the island is famous. MarchhHamauih:Traditional girls festival to celebrate the beach opening seen in the outer islands. It is also for drive away onefs evils. AprilhShimihFRelatives gather to clean the family tombfs surrounding area and offer ceremonial foods for their ancestors. MayhYukka-nu-hih:Okinawan traditional childrenfs day with hopes for health and growth of the children. Junehharih:There held Dragon boat races traditionally by fishermen throughout Okinawa to pray for a maritime safety and bountiful fishing, JulyhSummer festivalh:There held various kind of summer festivals like beer fest or music fest with Fire works. AugusthEisah It is known as the Bon Festival,a three-day observance when ancestor spirits are invited to visit their families in the living world. Eisa dances during these period are for welccoming ancestral spirits. SeptemberhShi-shi-maih:Lion-dances are widely perfomed at many area of Okinawa to pray for a good harvest and rituals to despel evil spirits on the fall night of full moon. OctoberhTsuna-hikihFIt is traditionally the fight event to gain a great harvest between the farming villages.The Naha Great Tug-of- War has a history of 400 years and the weight of the Ropes recorded in the Guinness book. NovemberhHatagashirahFHatagashira is a kind of sports and tradition of balancing enormous flagpoles with heavy decorations at the top.Each flags waving beautifuly and the audience thrilled with the skills of powerful men balancing the flag poles. DecemberhMarathonhFThe Naha Marathon is one of Japanfs largest citizensf full 42.195km marathon with over 30.000 runners and joggers participating every year. |