At the end of June and the end of December, Shinto shrines hold the ōharae, the great purification. It cleanses the tsumi and kegare, the sins and impurities, that have built up over the half year.
The June rite, nagoshi no harae, falls on June 30. The December rite, toshikoshi no harae, belongs by tradition to New Year’s Eve. Passing through the chi no wa, a large ring of grass, is believed to cleanse body and mind of the impurities of the half year.