Our blog - Period 20100809
Obon
- Category :
- Custom/Culture
Obon and New Year are the most important traditional Buddhist festivals, when ancestors’ spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family. New Year is celebrated in January and Obon used to be celebrated from the 13th to 15th of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. Today most people celebrate around August 13 – 15 throughout Japan.
Many families tidy up the house and 
place a variety of food offerings on a Bon, a tray in front of a Buddhist altar for this event. Many children who left their parent’s homeswould go back home with their new family. On the first day of Obon, either lanterns or fires are lit to guide their ancestor’s spirits back home. People visit their 
ancestor’s graves with flowers and offerings and Buddhist’s priests may be called to visit homes to recite sutras. On the last day people send back their visiting spirits by lighting their way with hanging lanterns with family name and crests or making bon fires.
place a variety of food offerings on a Bon, a tray in front of a Buddhist altar for this event. Many children who left their parent’s homeswould go back home with their new family. On the first day of Obon, either lanterns or fires are lit to guide their ancestor’s spirits back home. People visit their ancestor’s graves with flowers and offerings and Buddhist’s priests may be called to visit homes to recite sutras. On the last day people send back their visiting spirits by lighting their way with hanging lanterns with family name and crests or making bon fires. 
Bon-odori (Obon dancing) is a big event during Obon. It’s said to be a happy dance of those spirits who were able to be released from hell, the realm of Hungry Ghosts. Other Obon-related activities are also conducted to console and entertain the ancestors' spirits. Obon is not a Japanese Public Holiday, but many people take vacations during this time to visit their hometown, and others choose to go overseas with families or friends. Try to avoid driving out to the countryside during this season as the traffic could be very bad. Enjoy the quite time in big cities!
