Festivals and parades
The Gion Matsuri, the festival of Yasaka Shrine
- the most famous festival in Japan
- takes place over the entire month of July (1st, 10th-17th, 23th-25th, 28th, 31st)
- dates back to 869 as a religious ceremony to appease the gods during the outbreak of an epidemic
- continues to select a local boy to be a divine messenger; he cannot set foot on the ground from the 13th until after he has been paraded through the town on the 17th
- involves a parade with massive floats and hundreds of participants
- 23 yamas and 10 hokos (types of floats-yamas are smaller and hoko are the massive)
- theatre performances, dances, lanterns, music, food carts, drink vendors, mikoshi purification (wash a portable Shrine)
The Fourth of July Parade, across AMerica
- America celebrates Independence Day on July 4th
- summertime activities- cookouts, historical pageants, beach trips, pool, eating contests, music, etc.
- theme: fireworks, red, white, and blue
- many participate in the parades
- all-day event