Obon Festival
Obon Festival (a/k/a Bon Festival) is Japan's Buddhist festival of the dead. The spirits of ancestors return to this world for the festival, to visit their relatives. On the first evening, lanterns in the homes guide their ancestors in; and on the final evening, floating lanterns in the water guide them back to the other side. At temples and at alters within homes, food is offered to the spirits. The bon-odori dances are performed.
Since Obon is a lunar holiday, it can be in July or August, and the week is an occasion for a large number of Japanese to take vacations. During ancient times, this was a time of sexual liberation, when young men would choose their wife by lottery. These holiday wives are called "Bonkaka" or "Bon Wives."
See also: Buddhism, Japan, festivals, holidays, Day of the Dead, Halloween
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