Have you ever heard of 'o-Bon'Festival?
WE all know about 'Day of Death' in November. In East Asian countries, people believe that their ancestor's souls come home for 3 days twice every year, Spring and Summer. People show their respects to their passed away parents and ancestors by doing a set of receiving/sending off rituals and preparing meals for them for the 3 days. (Confucianism) 9/11-13th in Korea (Tell me anyone who found out Korea celebrate late in September not in Summer?), around 8/15 called 盂蘭盆 in China, called 盆"oBon' in Japan starting from 7/15 depending on the regions. (Country side celebrates around 8/15 due to the Chinese Moon calendar they use) All the population moves and rush back to their hometown to spend the few days with their families, it is like Thanksgivng and Christmas combined. There will be a oBon-odori dancing events held in each community. Anybody could join and dance with music and foods. Many of my high school students dress up with yukata (cotton informal kimono) and 'chilling' even here in Los Angeles. Why don't you join the oBon Odori for this summer?
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