Warabi Hadaka Matsuri 和良 比はだか祭り

The Mud Festival

Warabi Hadaka matsuri is a unique festival that takes place on February 25 in Yotsukaido. Near naked men smear babies with straws soaked in the mud...

The parents or sometimes their wives will entrust their babies (between a few months and a maximum of three years) to the "naked men" (thus undressed to prove their bravery in this winter cold) so that they smear them with mud, a guarantee of good health.

 

A strange procession

 

It is then that a strange procession sets off: the naked men, each carrying a baby in their arms, descend in single file down the hill which leads to a small rice field reduced to the state of a muddy pond. They enter carefully and dip their straw with which they draw marks on the forehead of the toddler so that this ritual ensures good health and protects him from evil spirits.

In the crowd of spectators, no one seems to doubt the effectiveness of this method. Once the baby has been smeared, the participants go back to the shrine to return it to their parents and pick up other toddlers, as it is customary for this act to take place at least three times (an auspicious figure in Japan).

Warabi Hadaka matsuri , Yotsukaido

Warabi Hadaka matsuri, Yotsukaido

IoT

There they will form groups with a few men perched on the shoulders of others who will try to knock down those in the opposing group(s). Once the groups have fallen, the participants go back up to the sanctuary, warm themselves again over a wood fire and sake and return to frolic in the same way in the mud. At each ascent, they have fun smearing copiously with mud the people who are on their way. The atmosphere is friendly and everyone is happy, it brings good luck!

The participants, more and more chilled, will warm up a bit more before going to take a well-deserved shower!

 

Warabi Hadaka matsuri , Yotsukaido

Warabi Hadaka matsuri, Yotsukaido

IoT


Address, timetable & access

  • Address

  • Timetable

    JR Sobu Honsen Line to Yotsukaido Station. About 20 min on foot.
  • Price

    Free
  • Access

    Every year, on February 25 from 1 pm.

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