On April 8, Japanese Buddhist temples celebrate Buddha's birthday (Kambutsu-e). In another way, this holiday is called the Festival of Flowers (Hana Matsuri). On this day, Buddhist temples are decorated with flowers, and a special flower tea-amatya is distributed to the parishioners. It is believed to have magical powers. According to legend, immediately after birth, nine heavenly dragons watered the baby's head with water. This legend is reproduced by the rite. Flowers symbolize the Lumbini garden, in which the Enlightened One was born. On this day, it is customary to give each other flowers and small bags of amati. Various charms are written with this tea, they are also watered with Buddha statues.
Summer Holidays
Fathers Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. This holiday came to Japan from the USA. On this day, children give their fathers gifts, usually ties, wallets, umbrellas and cufflinks. Some schools organize classes on this day so that fathers (who work on weekdays) can come to school and watch their children learn.
July 1 - the opening of the climbing season for Mount Fuji. There is a post office at the top of the mountain, and anyone can send a letter from here to prove to their friends that he really was at the top of Fuji.
Since July 20, 1996, Japan has celebrated Sea Day. On this day, the Japanese pray to the sea, praise it in prayers for the fact that it helped them in all difficult times and saved them from hunger. In small seaside towns, colorful processions are held, and the Japanese rush to spend evenings in coastal taverns and restaurants.
The day of the autumnal equinox is Shubun no hi (September 23 or 24). The holiday, like the spring, is preceded by a weekly period of abstinence - higan. At this time, the Japanese again visit the graves of their ancestors.
From the book: "100 Great Holidays". Elena Olegovna Chekulaeva
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