Colors of Nagasaki - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Nagasaki hosts many annual festivals, each of which has its own unique history. In August, during the traditional Obon Festival, local residents honor the memory of deceased relatives. For this event, townspeople built small boats with photographs of relatives who died in the current year fixed on them. A solemn procession passes through the city streets to the harbor where the symbolic boats are burned. At first glance, the festival may seem fully mournful, but there is also a festive part. Locals believe that the boat burning ceremony helps the souls of their deceased relatives to go to heaven. Such a significant and kind event is celebrated with colorful fireworks and gong playing.

In late August, the Lantern Festival, one of the largest of its kind in Japan, is held in the surrounding area of Emukaetho. Within the framework of this festival, a huge 25-meter-high tower is built from lanterns. More than 3,000 lanterns are used for its formation. When evening comes, all the lanterns installed on city streets and squares are lit - a truly fantastic sight. The festival involves many entertainment activities for children, they can also participate in ceremonies.

Nagasaki is the venue for one of the largest fireworks festivals in Japan, which is usually held in the last days of July. A pyrotechnic show organized in a seaside park becomes one of the largest on Kyushu Island. The festival program lasts two days, and most of the events take place in the evening. About 10,000 fireworks are launched on the first evening and about 5,000 on the second. Apart from fireworks displays, a lot of interesting entertainments are organized as part of the festival. The city park offers open-air cafes serving popular drinks and traditional food until late at night. Here, open-air concerts and theater performances are held, carousels and rides are installed for the youngest guests. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In general, local residents are known for a great love for lush holidays and celebrations, and this feature of the national culture is often made fun of, in a good sense. Solemn processions and carnivals that take place in Nagasaki are truly second to none in Japan. One of the most beautiful and magnificent holidays is the Nagasaki County Festival celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The history of this holiday is very interesting and begins in the first half of the 17th century. During this period, many Portuguese missionaries who settled in Nagasaki built Catholic churches and organized lush religious holidays in the streets. In order to overshadow their processions, locals decided to arrange their own holiday. Over hundreds of years, it has gained an incredible scale.

According to one of the historical traditions, it is customary to leave the doors of the houses open on the days of the festival. That's how people demonstrate their purity within historically accepted faith. Everyone can enter the house and check if any Catholic attributes are stored inside. The traditional festival has gained immense proportions. Colorful parades and processions are held in Nagasaki streets for as long as three days. Beautiful platforms and other symbolic sets are made for the festival to be put on public display. The festival audience is mainly made up of locals. In recent years, however, it attracts more and more tourists. Folklore groups and street performers are always invited to the festival, so it will be interesting to visit it even for those who have never before been interested in religious holidays.

In Nagasaki, beautiful celebrations are held throughout the year. Despite the fact that now they attract lots of ordinary tourists, the traditions of many holidays remain unchanged. There are no tourist-oriented festivals and celebrations here - all holidays are based on historical traditions. Given that local religious rules are rather soft, adherents of any religion can participate in most festivals. This feature also applies to holidays taking place in local churches throughout the year. Fans of event tourism would be happy to visit Nagasaki at any time of the year, as festivals and celebrations dedicated to the regional culture are held one after another here.