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Origin of Aomori Nebuta Festival

The origins of the Nebuta Festival are not entirely clear, but it is thought to have developed from a local tradition called Nemuri Nagashi. This custom involved walking outside on a couple of nights in early July carrying leaves and lanterns, and cleansing one’s body of the fatigue and drowsiness of summer by passing those negative states onto these items. The leaves were then cast into rivers and the ocean on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar (which was used in Japan until 1872).

The timing of the Nemuri Nagashi overlapped with the Tanabata Festival, a celebration of the stars introduced to Japan from China during the Nara period (710–794). The simple lanterns used in the original ritual were eventually replaced with more elaborate ones called Nebuta, into which tiredness and evil spirits were expelled before they were set afloat, and the custom came to be called Nebuta Nagashi instead. Over time, Nebuta Nagashi developed into the Nebuta Festival, which has been celebrated in some form since at least the first half of the eighteenth century. The early days of the festival featured box-shaped lanterns, while large, figure-shaped floats first appeared in the early 1800s.

The current Nebuta style with colossal floats was established after World War II, which is also when the lighting inside the figures was switched from candles to electric lamps. The floats have continued to grow more elaborate over the years, in part due to the increasing popularity of the festival among tourists. In 1980, the Nebuta Festival was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. Its Nebuta Nagashi origins live on in the last evening’s Bay Parade, when the Nebuta floats are paraded on boats in Aomori Bay.

青森睡魔祭之源起

儘管睡魔祭的起源仍然存在爭議，但一般認為是由當地傳統的「眠流」習俗逐步發展而來。7月初的數個夜晚，人們在外結隊遊行，將夏季的疲憊與濃厚睡意轉移至手中的樹葉與火把，以消災解厄；農曆7月7日（日本直至1872年均使用農曆），更有將樹葉流入河川、大海的習俗。

「眠流」的時間及內容，與七夕祭頗為相近。七夕祭有祭祀星宿的習俗，於奈良時代（710-794）自中國傳至日本後，便與津輕地區的古老習俗及精靈送（盂蘭盆節，送祖先神靈）、人形送（送稻草人，以辟邪除災）、蟲送（驅蟲儀式，以保佑豐收）等傳統交相融合，最終發展成燈籠形式。之後，玲瓏精緻的睡魔花燈出現，取代了以往的燈籠。人們將疲憊、惡靈封印於花燈，並將花燈送入河川與大海，順流而去，因此取名為「睡魔流」。隨著時代的演進，「睡魔祭」逐漸形成——18世紀前半，睡魔祭已具雛形，當時，花燈尚為四方形；而人物造型的巨大花燈，則於19世紀初期隆重登場。

如今在睡魔祭中使用的藝閣巨大明亮，這類樣式始於第二次世界大戰之後，且內部用以照明的蠟燭皆已改為電燈；由於在遊客間備受好評，藝閣的製作也更為考究。1980年，睡魔祭被指定為「重要無形民俗文化財」。睡魔祭源遠流長，而從祭典最終日於陸奧灣舉行的藝閣海上巡遊中，仍能依稀瞥見「睡魔流」的昔日舊影。

青森睡魔祭之源起

关于睡魔祭的源起虽尚存争议，但普遍认为是由当地的“眠流”习俗逐步发展而来。7月初的数个夜晚，人们在外结队游行，将夏日的疲乏与浓厚睡意转移至手中的树叶与火把，以祓秽除恶；农历7月7日（日本直至1872年均使用农历），则有将树叶投入河川、大海的习俗。

“眠流”的时间及内容，与七夕祭颇为近似。七夕祭有祭祀星宿的习俗，于奈良时代（710-794）自中国传至日本后，便与津轻地区的古老习俗和精灵送（盂兰盆节，送祖先神灵）、人形送（送稻草人，以辟邪除灾）、虫送（驱虫仪式，以保佑丰收）等传统活动交相融合，最终发展成灯笼形式。之后，精巧细致的睡魔花灯出现，取代了以往的灯笼。人们将疲劳、恶灵封印于花灯，并将花灯投入河川与大海，顺流而去，故取名为“睡魔流”。随着时代的演进，“睡魔祭”逐渐形成——18世纪前半叶，睡魔祭初具雏形，当时，花灯尚为四方形；而人物造型的巨大花灯，则于19世纪初期隆重登场。

如今，睡魔祭中使用的庞大明亮的山车始于二战之后，其内部的照明也由蜡烛改为电灯；由于在游客间备受佳评，山车的制作也愈发考究。1980年，睡魔祭被指定为“重要无形民俗文化财”。睡魔祭源远流长，而从祭典最终日于陆奥湾举行的山车海上巡游中，仍能依稀瞥见“睡魔流”的往昔旧影。