Jidai Matsuri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jidai Matsuri |
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| Also called | Jidai |
| Observed by | Kyoto, Japan |
| Type | Religious |
| Date | 22 October |
| Next time | 22 October 2025 |
| First time | 1895 - (130 years, 5 months and 21 days) |
| Related to | Fukagawa Matsuri, Sannō Matsuri |
The Jidai Matsuri (which means "Festival of the Ages") is a super cool traditional Japanese festival. It happens every year on October 22 in Kyoto, Japan. This festival is one of Kyoto's three biggest and most important celebrations. The other two are the Aoi Matsuri (in May) and the Gion Matsuri (in July).
People of all ages love the Jidai Matsuri. The best part is a huge parade where people dress up in amazing, real-looking costumes. These costumes show off different times and famous people from Japan's long history. It's like a giant history lesson coming to life!
Contents
Why the Jidai Matsuri Started
The Jidai Matsuri began because of a big change in Japan. In 1868, the country's capital city moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. This was part of a time called the Meiji Restoration. The Emperor of Japan, his family, and many government workers all moved to Tokyo.
Remembering Kyoto's Past
People in Kyoto worried that their city would lose its importance. To keep Kyoto's history alive, the city decided to celebrate its past. In 1895, they marked 1,100 years since Kyoto was founded. Back then, Kyoto was called Heian-kyō. It was started in 794 by Emperor Kanmu.
To kick off the first Jidai Matsuri, a special place called the Heian Shrine was built. This shrine honors the spirit of Emperor Kanmu. To make the festival even more special, they added a parade. This parade featured people dressed in clothes from every important time period in Kyoto's history.
Honoring More Emperors
Later, in 1940, the festival also began to honor Emperor Kōmei. He was an important emperor who helped bring Japan together. He also made sure Kyoto was seen as the center of Japan. This happened as the Tokugawa shogunate (a military government) was losing power.
The Amazing Parade
The Jidai Matsuri parade is the main event! It starts early in the morning. Special portable shrines called mikoshi are brought out from the Kyoto Imperial Palace. These shrines represent both Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Kōmei. People can come and show their respect to them.
A Journey Through Time
The parade itself begins in the afternoon and lasts about five hours. It stretches for two kilometers! Around 2,000 people take part. They dress up as samurai, military leaders, and everyday people from different eras. You can see costumes from the earliest times all the way up to the Meiji era.
Japanese women also join the parade. They wear incredibly fancy and layered kimonos called jūnihitoe. These are very beautiful and traditional outfits.
Finally, the mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried from the palace. A costumed military band plays traditional Japanese music called gagaku. The whole parade ends at the Heian Shrine.
A Special Year for the Parade
In 2019, the Jidai Matsuri parade was moved to October 26. This was because of a very important event: the enthronement ceremony for Emperor Naruhito.
Images for kids
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People dressed in historical costumes during the Jidai Matsuri.
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A participant dressed as a Bugyo (magistrate) from a past era.
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Costumes representing the Yoshino Period in Japanese history.
See also
In Spanish: Jidai Matsuri para niños
