The First Horse Festival aka Hatsuuma Was Originally in March, But Now It’s In February

The First Horse Festival aka Hatsuuma is a spring holiday for worshipping at Fushimi Inari shrines across the country. However, because of the change from the old Chinese calendar to the Gregorian calendar, is now celebrated in the middle of winter! Inari is a god of spring and farmers would come to pray to Inari (whose messenger is the fox) for help in sowing their fields. However, this holiday was originally in the planting season of March. But do to a change in calendar, has been changed to the coldest part of winter!

The traditions for Hatsuuma change from location to location. It is one of Japan’s Miscelaneous Festivals (which are important, but of a more local flavor and not generally on display for international visitor consumption) and the traditions of Uemura in Toga village, Higashi Yunami district of Nanto City, Toyoma Prefecture, are one of Japan’s Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. This day commemorates the Shinto deity Uka Goreijin descending from the heavens to Mt. Inari on February 7th, 711 ad (or the 9th, or March 2nd). Specifically it is a festival for silk worms, cows and horses. It was also the day when Japanese children entered an Edo period form of primary school called terakoya

Do please enjoy eating scrumptious Inari Zushi, Shimotsukare, and Early Afternoon Dumplings on this day!

References

In Japanese

http://www.i-nekko.jp/matsuritoasobi/fuyu/hatsuuma/

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%88%9D%E5%8D%88

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%88%A9%E8%B3%80%E3%81%AE%E3%81%AF%E3%81%A4%E3%81%86%E3%81%BE

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