Okinawan festivals and observances
overview festival observance found okinawa island okinawa prefecture southwestern japan okinawan culture noted extreme diversity following list based southcentral okinawa may applied northern okinawa miyako yaeyama hold substantially different festival observance unless otherwise noted date according traditional lunisolar calendar category january may june december artificial created ease article navigation december solar calendar tusinuyuru new year eve amid celebration garlic used different way according local tradition banish keep away evil spirit ʔwakamizi year first drawn water set offering ancestor january solar calendar sjoogwachi standard japanese shōgatsu new year day local religious leader hold first rite new year head household first son visit relative elderly present gift home senior citizen cup awamori enjoyed good luck place slice dried squid salt eaten visiting head one family incense offered ancestor male member traditionally make visit however day wife child may go along well people also visit shinto shrine jinja around time year make new year wish draw new year fortune omikuji find luck coming year common japanese new year tradition upheld january hwinukan mukee hwinukan go away kitchen back home december january matron burn incense make offering awamori rice kitchen hearth welcome home especially popular main island january zuuruku nichi ancestor new year one many holiday extend family gather tomb make offering flower incense awamori food prayer well picnic commune presence ancestor early february simakusarasi purification village especially popular southern okinawa cow slaughtered various part used ritually cleanse community cow blood smeared leaf onto wall gate heart boiled presented utaki ancient tomb house especially old powerful family rope particularly straw rope hung path edge town mark reach community sanctuary keep evil influence bone cow tied string cow meat given communal consumption march solar calendar hamaʔuri purification beach holiday girl woman often walk along beach family collect shell based upon belief walking white sand purifying also believe bad omen ignored one walk beside sea mugwort rice cake eaten day early april solar calendar siimii chin qingming another okinawan visitation ancestor family tomb held time appropriately begin spring year agricultural work also celebrated kamiusiimii family head widely extended family gather commune common ancestor april ʔabusibaree ritual ward pest grass cut along edge field rat insect caught put aboard small boat ritually set sea late aprilearly may jamadumi taboo loud noise april may forbidden make loud noise thus cut tree people believed noise would cause wind would destroy crop noise wouldnt cause wind cutting tree would destroyed natural windbreak truly keep crop safe may jukkanuhwii haariihaarei race dragon boat race team local men race dragonshaped boat amid ritual tribute sea god boat race connection prayer ensure good fishing staged since th century today race arose mixing two tradition fishermens race sea dragon boat ceremony performed river lake china traditionally race held fourth day fifth lunar month naha staged may solar calendar match tourist season golden week largest race naha itoman tamagusuku similar race also held island people okinawa island settled yonaguni ishigaki etc june umachiisichumasikjomaawa sichuma harvest festivalsmillet festival family pray together giving thanks good harvest seeking future prosperity june kasichii rice offering ancestor rice steamed red bean offered ancestor thanks good harvest also may celebrated august july sichigwachi sichigwachi seventh month ghost month marked midmonth veneration dead v marital rite celebration taboo lunar july due ritual involving presence dead july sinugu men brother somewhat similar miyakojimas pāntu rite ada near kunigami village northern part okinawa male climb mountain pray mountain god prosperity good harvest also face direction sea call upon sea god ritually assume godforms mountain deity covering leaf crowning red flower carry branch community together purify waving branch border field rite called sakankei men receive ritual libation offering god whose form assumed july ʔunjamiʔungami shioya bay ogimi village northern part okinawa priestess invoke god sea prosperity good fishing priestess call god place boat water assume form god much men kunigami assume form mountain god sinugu v return shore greeted priestess hosted ritual tent make blessing receive libation offering visit area village finally god seen local people gather beach july tanabata wish written strip paper hung bamboo tree family also visit graf offering invite ancestor following week obon ooshiro july – obon festival featuring eisā dancing obon ancestor believed gather en masse living relative prayer offering incense food alcohol flower made three time day like siimii new year eve v obon significant holiday ancestor worship attendance member extended family almost required first day obon called ʔunkee family altar memorial tablet cleaned decked incense fruit sugarcane uuzi offering simple offering rice bean water minnukuu prepared spirit receive regular attention accompany ancestor home often offering may spill onto low table set front buchidan offering may placed sangwaa family gate zoo lit pine torch candle incense second day nakanuhwii rather uneventful close midnight third day ʔuukui people farewell gathering ancestor large meal best food presented incense paper money called ʔuchikabi representing money world dead like chinese joss paper hell bank note burned remaining offering gathered set outdoors ancestor sent away eisā dancing traditionally end obon drum sending ancestor away respect blessing ooshiro august shishimai dance lion dance harvest festival various midmonth festival around okinawa island shishimai dance performed consecrate festival ground open festival wooden lion mask woolylooking costume woven dyed bananachoma strip worn dance performed loud music featuring gong drum bell flute sanshin various instrument lion dance feature two dancer lion august tugsofwar midmonth august festival often feature communal tugofwar using giant fiber rope often take day weave rope naha long weighs metric ton similar tugofwar take place korea august august udui dance tsuken island katsuren men circle dance chinese origin performed traditional summer dress accompaniment small handheld drum august beginning yabu dance festival near nago performance festival root priestess prayer thanks hope concerning year harvest next parade dancer various folk performance including formal yotsudaki kumiodori dance similar dance festival held throughout okinawa notably ieshima celebrate harvest november august august every five year ayachi shishi marionette performance jana near nakijin stage show held end pair shishi marionette male female dance play together accompanied sanshin drumming august taa faa kuu dance iju nakagusuku dance chinese origin performed originally kume brought nakagusuku performance harvest energetic feature chinesestyle costume prop august masutoriya ueno traditional staff dance accompanied harvest prayer september kami ugami prayer pilgrimage september people visit various sacred site pay respect famous kami especially popular area around nakijin nakijin gusuku shuri castle november amidusi lowering net fishing ritual kudaka priest three priestess pray make offering alcohol rice sea god order ensure good fishing seven temporary enclosure built sea provide shelter visiting god november ʔizaihoo kudaka island longer performed due lack woman take priestess role performed every twelve year every year horse fourday fourstage initiation ritual ordaining woman island priestess v december muuchii standard japanese mochi offering muuchii rice cake wrapped sannin leaf offered signal beginning winter pray health family child muuchii tied string hung number muuchii tied determined child age child born year hachi muuchii celebrated parent visit neighbor family give muuchii information article drawn primarily festival ritual okinawa site run okinawa prefectural government