Name:Mildred P.

Rosas
Explain the 5 Major Holiday in Shinto.

New Year Celebration -"Oshogatsu" the Japanese phrase for New Year. It is considered to be
the most auspicious holiday for the Japanese. “Forget the past year” parties are held all through
Japan to wish goodbye to problems of the past year. The New Year brings with it a chance to
start over again. It means a lot of possibilities. This is why they have a practice of cleaning their
house or their office before the new year starts. They want to make sure they’re prepared to
welcome opportunities and to do their best.

Spring festival (Haru Matsuri)- Haru Matsuri literally means spring festival. The Japanese
carry out a lot of activities and events, that traditionally were intended to pray for a new crop and
to welcome the spring. With spring comes the blooming period, which for the Japanese means
change, a new beginning. One of the sure signs that spring is on it’s way is the appearance of
sakura blooms.

Summer festival ( Natsu Matsuri)- Natsu Matsuri festivals tend to have originated in the
events observed in rural communities to relieve farmers' fatigue from their agricultural work in
the summer season, or originated in the events observed in urban communities to hold
memorial services for the people who died from epidemic.

Setsubun-sai- Part of the ritual was expelling evil spirits. At a number of temples and shrines
they will do a variety of performances and rituals, but the most common is driving oni away with
beans (bean scattering) where people throw beans and other food items to people. At some
homes, children will throw beans often at their father who wears an oni mask to drive bad luck
out of their home.

Autumn (Aki Matsuri)- takes place after the rice harvest to thank the deities for a fruitful
harvest, as well as pray for the continued well-being of the community.