Thursday, May 28, 2009

花火の日(hanabi no hi): Day of fireworks

They say May 28 is hanabi no hi(花火の日), Day of fireworks. Hanabi (花火) literally means flower fire. In 1733 on this day, the first rocket was shot at the opening of the Ryogoku Big River (両国大川). This festival was held by the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune(八代将軍徳川吉宗) for the first time to comfort the souls of victims of the famine and cholera the year before and to wish the evil spirit split.
During the summer time there are many fireworks festivals (花火大会: hanabi taikai) here and there in Japan. Many people wear summer casual kimono called yukata (浴衣) and go to see the festivals.
I have seen fireworks in foreign countries, but I really love Japanese fireworks festivals. I hope you have a chance to see them in the near future.

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