A Time to Remember and Clean the Graves of Your Ancestors

Fall Equinox Day falls right in the middle of fall equinox week in Japan. This occurs on about September 22nd or 23rd every year. At this time Buddhists to visit the graves of their ancestors to pray, clean the gravesite, and leave offering of flowers and “Hagi” (a kind of Japanese sweet made from rice cake and sweet red beans). They remember their recent ancestors. According to Buddhist custom in Japan, this is the time for souls to enter Nirvana. Accordingly this holiday is very similar to the American Memorial Day. , people visit the gravesites of their relatives.

What To Do On Fall Equinox Day in Japan

It is a time of a great deal of Buddhist activities. Just like Memorial Day in America, most important thing is to tend to the graves of recently deceased relatives. But at this time you can also have memorial services performed. You can search your local area and try to find if there are any festivals going on at the nearby temples as well. There is an overwhelming good chance that there is something going on, especially if there is a graveyard near a temple involved.

References

In English

http://comeonup-house.com/blog-en/2018/09/25/autumnal-equinox-day-in-japan-shubun-no-hi-秋分の日）/

https://cotoacademy.com/autumnal-equinox-day/

In Japanese

https://hotokami.jp/articles/141/

https://www.e-sogi.com/guide/2175/

Photo thanks to Daderot @ WikiMedia.

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