A namahage is a man dressed as a demon, wearing a grotesque mask and cape made of straw. Namahages traditionally appear on New Year’s Eve at residents’ homes to warn children not to be lazy. In 1964 the city of Oga adapted a community event that occurs in people’s homes into a public festival that welcomes tourists. The Shinzan Shrine is the site for the festivities; in the dark, tens of people disguised as namahage parade down from the mountains and head to the shrine for music and dancing. Today a bonfire and rice cakes still await the arrival of the namahage. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary