However, due to lessened interest in the religion, 'being a matsuri as a Shinto ritual or rite and festival' is sometimes forgotten like a grand sumo tournament, and only cheerful events associated with rites and festivals are sometimes recognized as 'matsuri,' and therefore, cheerful events which were originally held independently of rites and festivals were called 'matsuri' in some cases.
しかし、宗教への関心の薄れなどから、大相撲のように「神事や祭礼としての祭りである」ことが忘れられたり、祭祀に伴う賑やかな行事の方のみについて「祭」と認識される場合もあり、元から祭祀と関係なく行われる賑やかな催事、イベントについて「祭」と呼ばれることもある。