Why do so many Japanese matsuri use floats?

I'd like to know the background of it; when did using floats become so popular? What's the significance of using floats? I understand that they can be used as mobile theaters or displays, but is there any true significance to them other than this? Why 'floats' in particularly instead of simply having an elevated stand in the middle of a crowd?



I actually like most Japanese festivals, since they're quite... festive. They're very fun! Nonetheless, I've learned to appreciate most festivals by learning their backgrounds, and I'd like to understand the background of one underlying feature of many... the dashi.Why do so many Japanese matsuri use floats?
%26gt;What's the significance of using floats



Dashi is a vehicle in shape of Mountain for Yorishiro/

Yorishiro is an object capable of attracting Kami (Spirit, 绁?, thus giving them a physical space to occupy in Shinto terminology.



more information



Yorishiro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorishiro

Kami

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami

Shinto

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShintoWhy do so many Japanese matsuri use floats?
rew