OBON お盆（おぼん）

It is still hot in Japan but the season is now changing into Autumn after our summer vacation season called お盆 (おぼん OBON）is over.　

Many Japanese company set their summer vacation period for the employees to visit their hometown to meet the family members.

So what is OBON?

We believe that our ancestors come back to visit us during this OBON period. (Aug 13 to Aug 16)

Not all Japanese families do as in the picture now a days but these are the traditions what Japanese people do for OBON.

If you go to supermarket during this season, you will see things to be decorated to Buddhist altar at home such as ground cherries, vegetables and autumn flowers.

We usually have family’s Buddhist altar in the house of the eldest son who takes over the parents’ house.

You can find the eggplants and cucumbers in the picture file and they have legs made by toothpicks or chopsticks. We decorate them for ancestors to arrive home fast by riding cucumber horse and leave slowly by riding eggplant cow and bringing our offerings to heaven.

On August 13th, we burn the small fire in front of the house to welcome the ancestors which we call it　迎え火（むかえびMUKAEBI）. ＊MUKAERU=to welcome, BI(HI)=fire Then on Aug 16th, we burn the fire again to see off the ancestors which we call it 送り火（おくりびOKURIBI）. ＊OKURU=to see off someone

There are some places burn the fire on the mountains. The famous one is taken place in Kyoto called 大文字五山の送り火（だいもんじ　ござんのおくりび　DAIMONJI GOZAN NO OKURIBI）which can be translated to “giant farewell bonfires on five mountains. They make letters (大、妙、法)　and shapes of ship and gate by fire on the mountains.

Also there are some places float lanterns down a river to see off the ancestors spirit.

And it is also popular to use electric lanterns instead of bonfire to avoid using fire around the house.

There are many 盆踊り（ぼんおどり　BONODORI）events in August. ＊おどり（ODORI）＝dance People wear traditional summer kimono called YUKATA and enjoy dancing and buying foods and playing games from the stalls. It used to be held to ease the spirit of ancestor by dancing but these days people just enjoy dancing as summer events.

Hoping these information can give you the image of OBON.