IIIII 2 Posted August 12, 2003 Share Posted August 12, 2003 Do all you with Japanese families go back "home" at Obon? I'd be interested to know of any traditions or such like if any..... Link to post Share on other sites
Weegeoff 0 Posted August 13, 2003 Share Posted August 13, 2003 What is Obon? Link to post Share on other sites
mumbojumbo 0 Posted August 18, 2003 Share Posted August 18, 2003 Japanese holiday (?) - but not a national holiday. I'm confused. But lots of people take time off work and go back home. Link to post Share on other sites
DrEvil 0 Posted August 20, 2003 Share Posted August 20, 2003 A 5 day long weekend with 2 rush days when the expressways and shinkansens run at 300% capacity. I experienced it once, not knowing about it, and it was a nightmare. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted August 20, 2003 Share Posted August 20, 2003 My muvva in law is an observant Buddhist (which doesn't mean much). At Obon, she pays a priest to come and mumble in front of the God box on which she arranges food for the duration of the festival. In the evenings, she goes out into the garden to burn a kind of wood sold for the purpose in supermarkets. This wood is used for lighting the way to and from the Other World for the spirits of the dead, principally her dead mother. Last time I was there at Obon, my niece asked her grandma lots of very specific questions about what she was doing, and when the literal-minded girl wasn't satisfied with the answers, indeed, started saying "But she's dead, so she isn't coming back. Where is she? Can you see her?", muvver in law got very annoyed and told her to shut up. Then the kiddies got togged up in yukata and went down into town to torment goldfish and eat candy floss on my tab. Link to post Share on other sites
Dims 0 Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Ahhh.... I love it when kids, not constained by politeness and driven by a fierce curiosity, hit the nail right on the head and ask the religious questions that need to be asked. You can just still back and watch the oldies squirm and struggle for answers. Especially when they take the theological baton and run with it. Nice one! From the mouths of babes........... Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted July 12, 2004 Share Posted July 12, 2004 Quote: Originally posted by Ocean11: My muvva in law is an observant Buddhist (which doesn't mean much). At Obon, she pays a priest to come and mumble in front of the God box on which she arranges food for the duration of the festival. Today, the priest came to our house to intone a sutra (not mumble!) in front of "Buddhist family altar"(not god box!). I chilled out to hear him in a singsong with bell, and cicadas. My aunts always told me this second son priest is the most handsome and I was looking forward to seeing him. I realized that I expected too much. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted July 12, 2004 Share Posted July 12, 2004 I can respect the tradition, but when the hell are people supposed to take holidays and NOT go back to their home? Aren't holidays for getting away? I know grown adults that say they have to go home because their parents insist. Don't they realize that are now adults and can make their own decisions?? Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Quote: Aren't holidays for getting away? Holidays are for doing exactly what the hell you want. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 I think realistically many people, to some degree, want to go home - hardly a case of being forced to. I sometimes feel I want to travel the world more with my holidays, but usually end up going back "home" for all sorts of reasons. I'm not forced to, but the limited time spent with the family - while we can - always seems worth it somehow. Link to post Share on other sites
jstepp 0 Posted July 14, 2004 Share Posted July 14, 2004 Quote: Originally posted by Ocean11: My muvva in law is an observant Buddhist (which doesn't mean much). At Obon, she pays a priest to come and mumble in front of the God box on which she arranges food for the duration of the festival. Is a God box anything like an Xbox? If so, I might purchase one of those too. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 I think they call the GodBox "katsudon" or something. This Obon thing, do people go to shrines and stuff even if they are not in the least bit religious?? Link to post Share on other sites
Karnidge 2 Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Butsudan. Many people do 2pintsmate. Link to post Share on other sites
IceEiji 0 Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Its a good time for me to rest. I usually stay in at my family home with air conditioner and lots of food and drink. Link to post Share on other sites
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