Obon Tradition

The months of July and August are especially important in Japan as the time of year when the spirits of the ancestors are thought to return to their earthly homes for a few days visit. This tradition is called Obon and is observed at different periods of mid-summer (mostly August) throughout the country. During Obon families will typically decorate their butsudan Buddhist home altar in preparation for the arrival of their spiritual guests. Many families may also light small fires of pine wood at the front of the home in order to guide the returning spirits and welcome them home.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• obon
• ancestors
• Buddhist
• butsudan
• altar
• tokaido
• softypapa

[almellit]

Thank you very much for the answer. It turned to a weird question, but I was kind of asking myself: "how do you break the rituel when it's over" and it came out this way. Sorry again!

[softypapa]

Hello almellit, I'm always happy to try and help. I hope that you are able to find the answer as this is indeed an important thing to know for someone who plans to perform the ceremony. Good luck with your seach. -Kurt :-)

[almellit]

Reminds me I've always wondered, how long do you give the food and what do you do when it is ruined? Do you burn it in a ceremony or simply throw it? I assure you I'm not kidding!

[softypapa]

Hello almellit, This is a great question though sadly I do not know the answer. I think that our family simply discards the old food at the end of the ceremony though I do not know if this is the proper thing to do. Perhaps someone who knows will chim in and fill us both in. -Kurt :-)

[AlanMolstad]

at :52 we see a huge stack of paper to the right of the wood cabinet.

What is this stack of paper?

[softypapa]

Hello AlanMolstad, The paper at the right are simply old newspapers waiting to be recycled. Thanks for watching and commenting. -Kurt

[KoxDef]

Ale tradycja w Japonii ;) wiem , ze i tak nic nie zrozumiecie ;P

[TheReytista]

my teacher told me to google it or watch it so thanks. i vote lots k. i hope u do the same thing to my videos

[TheReytista]

my teacher told me to google it or watch it so thanks. i vote lots k

[almellit]

Thank you so much this is so cute! Kawaii! And I'm glad to learn about how Obon is celebrated

[ischixoch]

In Mexico, celebrate the feast of the dead (1 and 2 November), which keeps a strong resemblance to the Japanese Obon, which also provides food altars of offerings to the deceased and also guided the dead lights and torches.