Obon Season
Aug. 14th, 2009 05:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarkerFrom the 13th to the 15th of August, here in Japan, we've been celebrating Obon. Basically, most everyone is on vacation and visiting their furosato -- hometown or home country. Quite a few people go to their family homes wherever those may be.
The story that most people will tell you is that this is a time when the spirits of the dead come back from the land of the dead for a short time, and then go back again. According to several websites, this is a Buddhist celebration that is about 500 years old.
Probably the main thing about Obon is bon odori -- or bon dances. These folk dances are usually performed by large groups, often with regional flavor. If you're at a festival, you may very well be invited to join in. They're fun, and the repetitive movements are usually pretty easy to learn.
You'll also see people wearing summer yukata -- light cotton robes. They're ideal for the heat and humidity that wraps most of Japan at this time of year.
So remember -- if you happen to see a ghost or some other goblin at this time, relax and wish them well. After all, obon is the one time of year that they get to visit, so it's a good time to celebrate together. Right?
The story that most people will tell you is that this is a time when the spirits of the dead come back from the land of the dead for a short time, and then go back again. According to several websites, this is a Buddhist celebration that is about 500 years old.
Probably the main thing about Obon is bon odori -- or bon dances. These folk dances are usually performed by large groups, often with regional flavor. If you're at a festival, you may very well be invited to join in. They're fun, and the repetitive movements are usually pretty easy to learn.
You'll also see people wearing summer yukata -- light cotton robes. They're ideal for the heat and humidity that wraps most of Japan at this time of year.
So remember -- if you happen to see a ghost or some other goblin at this time, relax and wish them well. After all, obon is the one time of year that they get to visit, so it's a good time to celebrate together. Right?
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Date: 2009-08-15 12:07 am (UTC)Your insights into Japanese life make me want to pay a visit there. It is, and probably always will be, only in my imagination, of course.
Still, I look forward to your postings and check for a new one every day, though I know that's a little greedy of me.