Before then, it was known as 'oomatsuri', 'onmatsuri' or the host shrine's name with the suffix meaning a festival, such as 'Kasuga-Matsuri' Festival or 'Iwashimizu-Sai' Festival, was used.
それ以前には「大祭（おおまつり）」「御祭（おんまつり）」などと呼んだり、社名に祭をつけて「春日祭」「石清水祭」などと呼んだりしていた。