1.
religious festival; ritual ceremony; rite
A formal religious ceremony or festival, typically associated with Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. More formal and solemn in tone than the everyday word 祭り.
神社で祭礼が行われた。
A religious ceremony was held at the shrine.
この祭礼は毎年秋に開催される。
This festival is held every autumn.
古くから伝わる祭礼には、地域の人々が大勢参加する。
Many local people participate in the traditional festival that has been passed down for generations.
Compound of 祭 (festival, worship) and 礼 (ceremony, rite). A formal term that emphasizes the religious and ceremonial aspects of a festival, as opposed to the celebratory or entertainment aspects.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 祭り — festival; the everyday, broad term covering both religious and secular events
- 儀式 — ceremony; ritual; more general, not limited to festivals
- 神事 — Shinto ritual; specifically religious, not the public celebration
- 例祭 — regular festival; the main annual festival of a shrine
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 祭礼を行う — to hold a religious festival
- 祭礼に参加する — to participate in a festival
- 伝統的な祭礼 — traditional religious festival
- 秋の祭礼 — autumn festival
REGISTER:
Formal and written. In everyday conversation, 祭り or お祭り is much more common.