| August is here! While August is the month most known for the O-Bon festival, in some parts of Japan, O-Bon is celebrated around early or mid-July. The date depends on the customs of local towns and villages, with the selected date based off of either the solar or lunar calendar.Hazuki is the shortened form of Haochizuki, or “month of falling leaves” and is the traditional Japanese way to say August. When Japan followed a lunar-based calendar system, Hazuki was the first month that fell in autumn, hence the name “leaf-falling month.”O-Bon is a Buddhist holiday where Japanese return to their hometowns to visit the graves of their deceased ancestors. While it is a somber occasion, it is also a time for celebrating the life of your family members as you reunite with ancestors whose spirits return at this time of year. A mukae-bi, or welcoming flame, is lit by families to guide their ancestors’ spirits to their homes. The bon-odori dance is a traditional folk dance performed by villagers during the O-Bon festival. When O-Bon ends, the spirits are sent off with another bonfire, called okuri-bi. Some regions release small lanterns down rivers or into the sea as part of the okuri-bi ritual.
Due to the migration of Japanese people to different countries, many other places including the United States host O-Bon events and others are encouraged to take part in the festivities. If you are interested in learning thebon-odori dance, consider joining the Awa Odori Chicago group! Best, |
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