While almost the rest of the world celebrate All Souls' Day or Halloween in the first two days of November, Japan has its own dates following their religious customs.
Ohigan or Higan-e is a bi-annual Buddhist holiday where the Japanese pay respect to their late loved ones and ancestors by visiting their graves. It is celebrated in autumn and vernal equinox (around September 23 and March 20).
Obon is another Buddhist event for remembering ancestors, held annually on July/August 13-15. It is believed that during this event, the ancestors' spirits come back to the world to visit their relatives.
People come in their relative's graves to clean it, serve tea and food, pray, burn incense, and so forth. They also have small celebrations in their homes, decorate, and do food offerings at butsudan (little shrines like altars) and temples.
During Odon, lanterns are hung in houses' facades in order to guide the spirits back home. Bon odori or obon dances are also performed. These lanterns are put into rivers, lakes, and seas to lead the spirits back to their world.
Reminiscing the memoirs and legacies of the departed one is crucial, for they are the reasons why we live in this world. Let their legacy live and be remembered.
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