From now until Aug 7, the northern Japanese city of Aomori is celebrating Aomori Nebuta, a festival (‘matsuri’) that features bright, colorful floats like the one seen in our photo. The history of how the festival began depends on who you ask and what you read. But the way to celebrate is to join or watch the parade that is the centerpiece of the observance. The floats depict mythic warriors and creatures, and they move through Aomori accompanied by musicians, often playing flutes and pounding on loud taiko drums. The goal? To ‘awaken sleepy souls.’
The Aomori Nebuta Festival parade, Japan
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Fight for your lefts
-
The Cordillera de la Sal in the Cordillera Domeyko Range of Chile
-
Do spirits haunt the Gardens of Versailles?
-
The dancing trees of Sumba Island
-
National Mushroom Month
-
Four Sisters, thousands of trees
-
A whale of a hug
-
Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
-
An ancient sailing tradition takes to the water
-
A Flag Day tradition
-
Cordouan Lighthouse, France
-
Star Wars Day
-
A storied trail marks a century
-
It s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
-
Put your flippers in the air…
-
A history of Vinland
-
A river runs through it
-
Vote!
-
Basking in the glow
-
World Honey Bee Day
-
Playa del Silencio, Spain
-
Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!
-
Serra de Tramuntana, Majorca, Spain
-
Isla del Pescado on the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
-
Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
-
Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
-
Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile
-
Surfer s paradise
-
Milky Way over Zabriskie Point, California
-
Hey, don t you guys have somewhere to be?