The 15th of March is Honen Matsuri in Japan, and we’re here to tell you how to celebrate the occasion to the fullest. Did you know that the Honen Matsuri has been celebrated for 1,500 years? The Honen Matsuri is a festival honoring fertility and produce. As a symbol of fertility, the festival features phallus-shaped tableaus, phallus statues, and individuals dressed in phallus costumes. Couples pray and hope to conceive a child, whereas farmers pray for a harvest-rich year. As offerings, candies, cakes, and confections are prepared, and gratis sake is distributed.
The background of Honen Matsuri
In 500 A.D., the fertility and bountiful harvest festival of Honen-Sai was celebrated for the first time in Japan. In 1603, during the Edo period, wooden phalluses were incorporated into processions to represent fecundity and good fortune.
Tagata is a temple located in a Komaki suburb to the north of Nagoya. Honen Matsuri festivities begin at the Tagata shrine. Salt is used by religious clerics to purify the procession route before the procession. The bearers then demonstrate an 882 pound wooden phallus through the streets. Regarding traditions, the Japanese are exceptionally tolerant and open-minded. Originally, the wooden phallus was affixed to a samurai statue.
All ages of men, women, and children attend the procession. Couples who have longed for children contact the phallus in the hopes of becoming pregnant in the near future. Farmers also participate in this procession and pray for fertile lands and a bountiful harvest in the coming year. Sake, a popular Japanese rice-based intoxicating beverage, is distributed for free to the populace. The greatest aspect is that there have been no reports of fighting, misbehavior, or violence despite the abundance of sake. Every year, millions of visitors from Europe, the United States, Australia, and other Asian nations attend this festival and pray for fertility and good health. The fact that Honen Matsuri is celebrated in the spring increases the festival’s appeal to tourists.
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HONEN MATSURI ACTIVITIES
Visit Japan
If you have been contemplating a trip to Japan, the ideal time to go would be during the Honen Matsuri festival. You can participate in this extravagant festival. The fact that Honen Matsuri occurs in spring makes it even more unique, as vibrant flowers bloom everywhere.
Construct phallus-shaped statues and sweets.
Be confident during Honen Matsuri. The Japanese consider the phallus to be a symbol of fecundity, vitality, and health. Make candies and statues in the shape of phalluses and commemorate Honen Matsuri in an authentically Japanese manner.
Share it on social networking sites.
Inform everyone that you are celebrating this occasion. Create a blog post or article about Honen Matsuri and distribute it on your social media accounts. You may also upload relevant images and videos.
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5 vital details about the TAGATA SHRINE
The shrine is situated on Mount Komaki’s peak.
Oda Nobunaga designed and erected the shrine.
The monument is situated on the site where the 1584 Battle of Nagakute took place.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a samurai, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shgun of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, fought in the battle.
Before the bearers procession, 45-year-old Shinto priests sprinkled salt on the road to purify it.
HONEN MATSURI DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | March 15 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | March 15 | Friday |
| 2025 | March 15 | Saturday |
| 2026 | March 15 | Sunday |
| 2027 | March 15 | Monday |
