Illustration of a spirit horse with a realistic watercolor touch. (File photo)
In August, families in Japan prepare for Obon, a special set of days to remember their ancestors and welcome their spirts back on July 13-15 of the lunar calendar.
During the period, locals set up elaborate altars, displays and even dance festivals called Bon Odori. Local grocery stores prepare many festive foods used for offerings as well as special decorations.
You may have wondered why there are a lot of cucumbers and eggplants in grocery stores and are highlighted as “veggies of obon”?
Families make a small horse out of a cucumber and a small cow of out of an eggplant to offer their ancestors’ spirits. These are called Shoryo-uma (horse for souls).
Also known as bon, Obon is a traditional festive period to honor and entertain ancestors’ souls, which was observed centuries ago every July 13-15 under the lunar calendar. As the current solar calendar is about a month behind the lunar calendar, today Obon is observed Aug. 13-15 in most regions.
Japanese believe that ancestors’ souls return to their families during this period, spending a few days with them before going back to their world.
Mountain Day on Aug. 11 is a national holiday, so it creates a longer set of days for people to take off from work and for public offices to close for Obon.
Japanese usually set up shoryo-dana (festival altar for souls) and clean up family tombs to prepare for Obon. When the Obon period begins on Aug. 13, families light up their lanterns or make a small bonfire, called mukaebi (welcoming fire) at the entrance of their homes to guide and welcome ancestors’ souls. The period is a family-oriented time where many return to their hometowns to celebrate.
Bon Odori festivals are held in town to entertain ancestors’ souls which were believed to be staying with their family for the Obon period.
On Aug. 16 or couple of days later, people send off their ancestors’ souls with another bonfire, called okuribi (seeing-off fire).
During Obon, you may see a square altar displayed in Japanese homes. This is Shoryo-dana (festival altar for souls), also known as Bon-dana and is used to place pictures and other items of the deceased, as well as an incense burner.
Also, some families make a small horse out of a cucumber and a small cow out of an eggplant. The legs are made of chopsticks or matchsticks. These are called Shoryo-uma (horse for souls).
Usually they are placed with an incense burner outside of the entrance of a home on the first day of Bon to welcome that ancestors’ souls. It is believed that the souls come back home quickly on a cucumber horse, tracing the trail of incense, and leave later slowly on an eggplant cow.
The horse and cow are placed on altar on the second day. People will display lanterns, flowers and food items around the altar.
Now you find cucumbers and eggplants are the symbol of the Obon tradition, don’t you? Enjoy rich summer tradition of Obon while you are in Japan!
