1.
temple/shrine festival day, fair
A day associated with a particular Buddhist or Shinto deity, on which visiting the temple or shrine is believed to bring special blessings. By extension, the festive market or fair held on such days with food stalls and games.
縁日に行こう。
Let's go to the fair.
縁日の屋台でたこ焼きを買った。
I bought takoyaki at a stall at the fair.
子どもの頃、近所のお寺の縁日で金魚すくいをするのが楽しみだった。
When I was a child, I looked forward to scooping goldfish at the fair at the neighborhood temple.
CULTURAL NOTES:
Originally, 縁日 referred to days with a special karmic connection (縁) to a particular deity, when visiting would bring extra merit. In modern usage, it primarily refers to the festive markets that spring up at temples and shrines, with food stalls (屋台), games like 金魚すくい (goldfish scooping) and 射的 (target shooting), and a lively atmosphere.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 縁日の屋台: festival stalls
- 縁日に出かける: to go out to a fair
- 縁日で遊ぶ: to enjoy oneself at a fair