HOKKAIDO JINGU / Annual Major Festivals

1.	Festival of New Year (Jan.1st).
	Commemorates the first day of the year, praying for a peaceful world, for Japan, and the prosperity of the Imperial Household.
2.	Festival of the parting of the seasons (Feb.3rd).
	Commemorates the beginning of spring and ceremony of praying for the coming in of good fortune and driving out all devils by throwing beans.
3.	Commemoration of the founding of Japan (Feb.11th).
	Commemorates the founding of Japan by accession to the throne of Emperor Jinmu, 2645 years ago.
4.	Festival of praying for the fertility of crops (Feb.17th).
	Prayers for the prosperity of all kinds of industries and the fertility of farm products.
5.	Main festival of Hokkaido Shrine (Jun.14th-16th).
	One of the 10 biggest festival in Japan, and the largest festival in Hokkaido (about 1,000,000 peoples).
6.	The great purification ceremony (Jun.30th).
	Purifying sins, and recharging the spirit.
7.	Festival of the Pioneers Shrine (Aug.15th).
	In honor of 34 men involved with the reclamation of Hokkaido. 500 children carry the portable shrines downtown.

8.	Festival of memorial enshrined deities (Sept.1st).
	Commemorates the enshrining of the 3 dieties in 1871.
9.	Festival of Meiji (Nov.3rd).
	Commemorates the birth of Emperor Meiji.
10.	Thanksgiving festival (Nov.23rd).
	Originated from the new rice festival, a festival to celebrate the first crop of the year, when the Japanese Emperor offers the new harvest of rice to the gods oh heaven and earth to thank them for the good hervest and to pray for future blessing. The Emperor himself eats the fresh rice in private with the gods.
11.	Festival of present Emperor's birthday (Dec.23rd).
	Offering the present Emperor our hearty congratulations for his long life.
12.	The great purification ceremony (see Jun.30th).
	Purification before welcoming the new year.
13.	Monthly festivals
	Every month the 1st, 10th, 15th and 20th at 10a.m. prayers for a peaceful world and for Japan, for the prosperity of the Imperial Household and Hokkaido.

Worshipping on New Year's Day (1,000,000 people come to the Shrine and pray)

Main festival
(June 14-16)

Four portable shrines go on procession with parading people and the gods see the prosperity of the town.


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