Aoi Matsuri
One of the oldest of Kyouto’s festivals, held on May 15 every year, the Aoi Matsuri has continued since the early part of the Heian Era. It consists of a procession of people wearing the costume of the Heian aristocracy and proceeds from Kyoto Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines. The name Aoi Matsuri (Hollylock festival) is said to come from an order given by god to “put hollylocks in your hair and hold a festival for me”.
- All the participants in the parade adorn themselves with hollylocks.
- Suikan - informal clothes worn by the aristocracy later used as formal wear for children.
- Suou – Everyday wear for a bushi of the Muromachi Era.
The procession consists of four sections, This ox-drawn carriage, called Gosho-guruma, is decorated with aoi(hollylocks), fuji(wisteria), shoubu(irises) and other flowers and appears in the second section.
Saiou-no Misogi
A Saiou is the unmarried sister of the emperor, offered to a shrine to serve the god of that shrine. The purification of the Saiou of Shimogamo shrine in the river Mitarashi is re-enacted before Aoi Matsuri on May 10.
The last section of the parade consists of women, with the Saiou riding in a kago(palaquin).
Furyuugasa
Furyuugasa were parosols formerly used by spectators at the festival to shade thempelves from the sun.
Mikage Matsuri
This solemn ceremony , carried out at the Shimogamo Shrine before Aoi Matsuri on May 12, is held to welcome the gods to the festival proper.