Obon Holiday

The Obon Holiday in Japan roughly coincides with the third week in August every year. The holiday is not unlike the Christian Easter Holiday with some Halloween sprinkled in.

The Japanese believe the spirits of their ancestors return from the realm of the dead this time of year to visit the family. On the first day of Obon, families will place two small spinning lanterns near their windows or the family shrine to guide the spirits home. On this or the next day, families will go to their family graves and clean them, replace incense sticks and pray.

In Kyoto, on the last day of Obon, fire symbols burn on the mountain tops for the ghosts to use to find their way back to the afterlife. On many islands along the Inland Sea, families make small paper boats and set them afire and afloat out to the night sea, burning into bright specks on the dark horizon.

Obon is not a flamboyant holiday, like Halloween is in America, nor is there a sacred custom, such as Easter. There aren't special meals prepared though individual family traditions may determine this. The tradition of cleaning the graves is more of an annual obligation and an opportunity for the family to come together. And while many Japanese still feel the spirits come to visit the household shrine, the majority use the time as a way of bonding with the grown children who may have moved away, with school aged youngsters on Summer break or with their neighbors. It seems every community has their own way of honoring the dead but during this holiday, all of Japan shares in an intimate and solemn exercise that also allows them to show their affection to their family.