Obon (お盆) is a time to hold the Buddhist memorial service for the spirit of ancestors. Depends on the region it is held either in July or August. Many people have obon from Aug. 13 to 16.
In the evening of the 13th we make a fire called mukaebi(迎え火) in front of the house or temple to welcome the spirit so that they won't get lost on their way to come back home. In the evening of the 16th we make a fire called okuribi(送り火) in front of the house or temple to send them off.
Those who are living away from home will come home during obon time, so that there are traffic jams here and there. This holiday is called obon yasumi(お盆休み).
We usually offer the special table with fruits, vegetables, sweets, rice and water. We decorate the horse made of cucumber and the cow made of eggplant, that means they come quickly with a horse and leave slowly with a cow.
We usually visit and clean our ancestors' graves.
There are places to have flowing lantern called toro nagashi(灯籠流し) or shoro nagashi(精霊流し), and dance known as Bon-odori(盆踊り).
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