Every country around the world has their own unique way of celebrating and they're all worth exploring. But one that stands out as a historically significant and particularly exciting tradition is Chindon'ya, an iconic Japanese event.
The name Chindon'ya is a bit of an onomatopoeia, as the word itself somewhat resembles the sound of the instruments that play in the marching band. Yes, it's a marching band and, while you don't see it quite as often as you used to, it still maintains its status as one of Japan's oldest and most cherished traditions.
Chindon'ya first started out in the city of Osaka in the 19th century and it was believed to be performed by a candy seller named Amekatsu. Known for his strong voice, he began the tradition of Chindon'ya in order to advertise his business. It blew up and, before too long, he started doing this for other businesses.
It was a fun way to bring in business and people absolutely loved it. More than a hundred years later, it is still a well-known tradition in Japanese Culture.