What do the Vatican, most Catholic churches and Muslim mosques, the Wailing Wall, and many conservative Middle Eastern countries have in common? Two things: 1. they are popular tourist spots, and 2. they require visitors to keep their bodies respectfully covered.The whole pashmina-as-a-shawl thing can get pretty old, so why not plan some time in your next adventure to be totally free of judgments, inhibitions, social norms…and clothes?
Many cities have festivals (both ancient and new) that offer people the opportunity to strip down and wear whatever makes them comfortable…whether it’s jeans and a T-shirt or nothing at all, anything goes at these clothing-optional events. It sure makes packing a lot easier!
1. Hadaka Matsuri – all over Japan
The Hadaka Matsuri refers to a ton of mini-naked events that occur all over Japan throughout the month of January. Traditionally only men participate in Hadaka Matsuri, wearing pretty skimpy little numbers called “fundoshi’ (think Sumo Wrestler garb meets loin cloth), and these men must be pretty studly because temperatures in Japan in January can drop to around freezing. Although each event has its own history and focus, many events date back thousands of years to Shinto traditions and are supposed to bring good luck, honor the gods, and keep the participants’ families safe in the new year.
Image: Flickr
filmmaker in japan
One of the most famous events is called Hadaka Mairi, aka the Naked Temple Visit, which is held in the first week of January in the northern province of Fukushima. Every year around 200 men parade through the streets of Yanaizu until they reach the Enazo-ji shrine. From there, they climb the 113 steps to the gate of the temple where the men purify themselves with icy water from a sacred trough. Once all the men have gathered, the temple bell rings, and they race into the main building and compete to climb a rope suspended from the ceiling. The first ones up ring a gong and then hoist themselves up to the rafters of the temple, yelling encouragements to the men who have yet to make it up.
Image:
Spacious Planet
In another event, almost 30,000 people come together at the Konomiya shrine in the city of Inazawa to watch 10,000 men desperately try to lay their hands on a single, specially-chosen man, called the Shin-otoko, to bring their families prosperity in the new year. Although it may sound like a thankless job, it is a huge honor to be chosen as the Shin-otoko, and the man chosen has to undergo intense spiritual cleansing (including having all hair on his body shaved) before the event begins. The event goes like this: the Shin-otoko parades down a street on his way to the shrine, meanwhile the other 10,000 men are waiting along that street drinking hot sake to ward off the freezing cold. Even though the Shin-otoko is provided with body guards, he is attacked violently as he proceeds because the throngs of men are so desperate to touch him. And to top it all off, his bodyguards use buckets of freezing water to ward off overly-aggressive touchers. This event has been taking place for over 12 centuries.
Image: Flicker
MatsuriTracker
