I think of you in the rising smoke
Although it has already passed, Obon is an event in Japan to honor the spirits of ancestors.
Obon is an event that is a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and Buddhism, and it used to be held on July 15 of the lunar calendar, but after the adoption of the solar calendar in the Meiji period (1868-1912), many areas had trouble with the July 15 date because it coincided with the busy farming season. The solar calendar was adopted during the Meiji period.
Obon is a time for decorations such as offerings, Bon decorations, and Bon chochin, which are unique to Obon.
And we must not forget the welcoming fire and the sending-off fire.
As mentioned above, the Obon festival is a fusion of ancient Japanese beliefs and Buddhism, and the belief that Buddhist smoke reaches the afterlife, so on the first day of Obon, people light a welcoming fire at the entrance or in the garden and use the smoke to guide their ancestors to their homes, and on the last day, they use the smoke from the bonfire to guide them back to the other world. (In some areas, people visit the graves of their ancestors, light a welcoming fire in front of the graves, and return home together with their ancestors.)
Also, decorations for a vehicle used by the ancestors to travel to and from the other world, called a "spirit horse," are prepared and displayed together with the graves. (Nowadays, glass ornaments are also available, but the basic idea is to prepare an eggplant and cucumber with four chopsticks inserted into the legs to look like a horse and a cow. There are various theories about this, but it is said that the idea is to have people ride a cucumber horse to come back as quickly as possible, and an eggplant cow to return slowly to the other side of the world.In some areas, Bon Festival lanterns are kept lit until the bonfire is lit.
During the Obon season, it may be a good idea to spend time relaxing and reminiscing, feeling for your family back home.
This event is probably similar to Halloween in that the spirits of relatives return to their homes.
Even though countries, languages, and customs may differ, the point of remembering to thank ancestors may have remained the same since time immemorial.
I will see you next time.