It has been sizzling hot. Like "Ukraine without A/C" hot. Indeed, I have not felt this hot for eleven years, not even when we lived in FL (because we always had A/C and the ocean). My carpet feels damp and I am sweating.....as it is above 70% humidity and 32 degrees celsius (90F).
For Japanese people, August is a busy month. Kids are out of school for three weeks in August, so families spend a lot of time together celebrating and playing.
Here is a glimpse into a Japanese culture from our monthly newsletter:
"August is the month for Obon. The 13th to the 15th is the Buddhist “Festival of the Dead,” these are the days to welcome home the souls of departed ancestors. Families prepare for Obon by decorating flower, choochin (paper lanterns) at the family alter and making “house” or “cow” decorations out of summer vegetables to guide the souls to their home. Obon dances and fireworks displays are held in many places. On the 16th, people light send-off fires and see the souls off. In Kyoto, the huge send-off fire called Daimonji is especially famous. Also, there are localities where the spirits are sent off with floating paper lanterns.
New Year’s (Oshoogatsu) and obon have been two important occasions for Japanese families to get together. Obon is not a Japanese national holiday, but most companies and stores take Obon holidays at this time of year so that they can return to their home-towns. So at the train stations and airports you can see many people toting souvenir gifts, and long-distance trains and airplanes are packed with people who return to their hometowns from large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. Also, the beginning and end of obon are marked with terrible traffic jams, sometimes 30-38 miles long, lines of cars are formed on major freeways and highways".
Sayonara.
For Japanese people, August is a busy month. Kids are out of school for three weeks in August, so families spend a lot of time together celebrating and playing.
Here is a glimpse into a Japanese culture from our monthly newsletter:
"August is the month for Obon. The 13th to the 15th is the Buddhist “Festival of the Dead,” these are the days to welcome home the souls of departed ancestors. Families prepare for Obon by decorating flower, choochin (paper lanterns) at the family alter and making “house” or “cow” decorations out of summer vegetables to guide the souls to their home. Obon dances and fireworks displays are held in many places. On the 16th, people light send-off fires and see the souls off. In Kyoto, the huge send-off fire called Daimonji is especially famous. Also, there are localities where the spirits are sent off with floating paper lanterns.
New Year’s (Oshoogatsu) and obon have been two important occasions for Japanese families to get together. Obon is not a Japanese national holiday, but most companies and stores take Obon holidays at this time of year so that they can return to their home-towns. So at the train stations and airports you can see many people toting souvenir gifts, and long-distance trains and airplanes are packed with people who return to their hometowns from large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. Also, the beginning and end of obon are marked with terrible traffic jams, sometimes 30-38 miles long, lines of cars are formed on major freeways and highways".
Sayonara.
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