On January 9, a three-day celebration-procession begins in some major Japanese cities in honor of the god Ebisu —, one of the seven gods of happiness and good luck. Ebisu is considered the god of wealth, the patron saint of fishermen and traders.
Tradition says that the Sun Goddess sent Ebisa to Earth and turned him into a fisherman so that he could get his own daily bread. That is why Ebisu has long been considered the patron saint of people in these professions, becoming their symbol of good luck. The god Ebisa is depicted with a fishing rod in his right hand, and under the arm of his left hand he holds a large sea bream. The face of the god Ebisu always radiates incredible joy and happiness.
On this day, traders, shopkeepers and all those who hunt for good luck and wealth line up in a procession and travel along the main street of the city to the temple to worship their patron.
The largest processions these days take place in Osaka –, a famous city of traders, in the ancient capital of Japan — Kyoto and in one of the main cities of the island of Kyushu — Fukuoka. In the center of the procession, the figure of the god Ebisu is carried on a large and festively decorated stretcher, followed by a cart with musicians, and drummers and barkers walk along the procession. More than a million people take to the streets, and the city is gradually drowning in the noise of festive bustle.
In Fukuoka, for example, one of the attractive elements of the holiday is the procession of geishas who offer prayers to the god Ebis, asking him for good luck in all his endeavors. Bamboo branches, which can be bought everywhere in Japan during the holiday, are considered a symbol of good luck. Participants in the procession distributing bamboo branches promise: «Purchase these branches and your business will always flourish!».
In addition to bamboo, a variety of mascots are also sold — bags made of rice straw, drums, small bamboo rakes « for raking in wealth». These mascots are attached to bamboo branches. It is believed that the more — mascots, the more money there will be and the more lively the trade will go.
By the way, the Japanese are very respectful of the gods who keep them at home and contribute to good luck. The God Ebisa is certainly called Ebisu-sama — Mr. Ebisu.