July is full of festivals in Kyoto. No one seems to be able to tell me what they are for. I have been asking for two days and have not gotten any answers. Last night I walked across a river with a candle and today there were parades in the morning and night right outside my hostel. It is all a mystery to me. Nice to look at though, I just wish I had some context.
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Erik, I Googled it. There are three important festivals in Kyoto: Aoi (Geranium) Festival in the Spring, Gion (Purification) Festival in the Summer, and Gozan (Fire) Festival in the Fall.
The Gion Festival which you are at is an 1100-year-old festival centered on Yasaka Shrine, and originated in the 9th c in Kyoto, which was then the capital city of Japan. Legend has it that a terrible plague wrecked havoc on the city. One of the priests of Yasaka shrine who are also known as Gion wanted to appease the Shinto gods. He led the people in a procession through Kyoto. The plague ended by the grace of the gods.
I like the picture of the girl with the Swan Costume, it reminded me of Björk.
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