The snow house festival
On February 15-16 of every year, snow mounds pop up all over the city of Yokote and light up at night, a four-century old tradition.
Kamakura are small hollow mounds of snow. They can be found at the festival held every year in Yokote in Akita Prefecture, up North of Honshu, on Feb. 15-16.
As night falls, kamakura are lit up from the inside with candles, offering an enchanting sight. This festival dates back to over 400 years ago, when people burnt up New Year’s decorations to send them back to deities and welcome the New Year. It may also be related to an old ritual of having the children chase away the birds to avoid them ruining the crops.
Altars are set up in the biggest kamakura, to honor water deities, offering them sake and rice cakes. People also pray for pure water. Children speak to passers-by in the dialect of Akita and invite them to come in. They offer a sweet rice drink and rice cakes.
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