A survey of the numerous festivals and holidays celebrated in Shintoism, including the popular Matsuri festivals and the national holidays.
Shintoism: An overview of what Shintoism is, its beliefs, and practices.
Festivals in Japan: An overview of the importance of festivals in Japan's culture and history.
Major Shinto Festivals: An overview of the different Shinto festivals, their history, significance, and practices.
Kamidana: A small home altar that Japanese people place in their homes and use to pray, make offerings and celebrate festivals.
Kagura: Shinto music, dance and ritual performances that take place during festivals.
Mikoshi: Portable shrine, or palanquin, carried on the shoulders of people during festivals.
Torii gates: The entrance gates to Shinto shrines, often adorned with symbolic patterns and writings.
Shimenawa: Woven rice straw ropes, that symbolize purity and are used to mark a holy area at shrines.
Omamori: Japanese amulets that can be purchased in shrine stores and are believed to bring good fortune and protection.
Shinto Shrines: An overview of the structure and function of Shinto Shrines, their architecture, and the significance of their different elements.
New Year's festivals (Oshogatsu Matsuri): Celebrate the new year with various purification ceremonies, rituals, and food.
Spring festivals (Haru Matsuri): Celebrate the beginning of spring with cherry blossoms, rice-planting, and other seasonal rituals.
Summer festivals (Natsu Matsuri): Celebrate the arrival of summer with fireworks, parades, and various other cultural events.
Autumn festivals (Aki Matsuri): Celebrate the harvest and autumn equinox with food offerings, local produce, and sake.
Winter festivals (Fuyu Matsuri): Celebrate the winter solstice, typically with candle-lighting, prayer, and warm drinks.
Shrine festivals (Jinja Matsuri): Celebrate a specific shrine and its deities with colorful processions, rituals, and performances.
Fire festivals (Hi Matsuri): Celebrate the power of fire with torchlit processions, bonfires, and other pyrotechnic displays.
Doll festivals (Hina Matsuri): Celebrate girls with displays of traditional dolls and offering of sweet Japanese wine, sake.
Tanabata festival (Star festival): Celebrate the meeting of two star crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi.