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Postednon July 17, 2013
Postednon July 17, 2013n
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nWhenndowntown is closed to autos, and people walk about every night eatingntreats and meat skewers purchased from food stalls…
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n…And some girlsnand women walk around in summer kimonos, called yukata, carrying traditional papernfans…
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n…Andnprivate houses in the old kimono merchant district open to the publicnand show off their family heirlooms…
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n…Younknow it’s Gion Matsuri!
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nThisnis one of Japan’s most famous festivals, held every year in Kyoto.nAnd tonight is the biggest night of all – the night of the parade,ncomplete with floats and marchers in traditional regalia.
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nMatsurinmeans “festival,” and Gion is the name of the kimonondistrict of Kyoto. n
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nThisnfestival started as a purification ritual to appease gods, in annattempt to avoid disasters that angry gods might inflict on people,nsuch as floods, earthquakes, fires, and plagues. However, in then1500s the government halted all religious events. The peoplencomplained. They didn’t seem to mind giving up the talk aboutnappeasing gods; they were fine without the purification rituals—butnthey insisted on keeping their parade!
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nSonit is that the festival developed its modern secular nature.
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nThesenfloats don’t exactly float!
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Therenare nine of the larger Hoko floats, which tower about 25 meters (82nfeet) from ground to tip and weigh about 12,000 kg (more than 26nthousand pounds)! Each of these floats requires 30 to 40 attendantsnpulling plus two pilots. There are 23 of the smaller Yama floats,nwhich require a mere 14 to 24 people to pull, push, or carry. Theynare only 6 meters (19 feet) tall and weight less than 2,000 kg (4,400npounds).
Therenare nine of the larger Hoko floats, which tower about 25 meters (82nfeet) from ground to tip and weigh about 12,000 kg (more than 26nthousand pounds)! Each of these floats requires 30 to 40 attendantsnpulling plus two pilots. There are 23 of the smaller Yama floats,nwhich require a mere 14 to 24 people to pull, push, or carry. Theynare only 6 meters (19 feet) tall and weight less than 2,000 kg (4,400npounds).n
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nThenHoko floats represent old provinces of Japan, and the Yama floatsncarry life-size figures of famous people. Both sorts of floats arenbeautifully decorated with tapestries and art and carry traditionalnmusicians and artists.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Wrong-Way Corrigan Day
Wrong-Way Corrigan Day n
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nAnniversary of an ancient solar eclipse
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nDisneyland’snbirthday
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on Julynholidays, historicalnanniversaries in July,nand Julynbirthdays.
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest pages on Augustnholidays, historicalnanniversaries in August,nand Augustnbirthdays.
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