[What day is it today? | Tohoku Edition] What day is March 16th?

16th Dumpling Day

The Day of Sixteen Dumplingsis a traditional event deeply connected to the worship of mountain gods and rice field gods. It is a nationwide custom of offering sixteen dumplings to welcome the gods, but it is said to be particularly deeply rooted in the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions.

"Kami Kyorai" (the coming and going of gods)is at the core of this tradition, which originates from an ancient Japanese legend of seasonal exchanges in which the mountain god descends to the village in spring to become the rice field god and returns to the mountains in autumn. March 16th, known as "Juroku Dango," is considered the day to welcome the gods, and November 16th is the day to send them off, with the sound of pounding mochi rice cakes being used to inform the gods of the timing of their departure.

Incidentally, in the concept of Kamikyorai, gods who are invited to come are further classified as "Shōrai-shin" (invited gods) , and gods who come on their own are classified as "Raiho-shin" (visiting gods). From this, the god of "Jūroku Dango" is a "Shōrai-shin," while the Namahage of Oga, Akita, etc., are "Raiho-shin."

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