お盆のお墓参りで松本の実家に来ています。
お盆の迎え火や送り火には、こちらの地方では、カンバ（白樺の皮）を燃やします。この燃やすものは地域によって違うようで、同じ長野県内でも、藁だったり、杉の葉だったりと色々のようです。子供の頃からお盆に必ず目にしている光景の為か、このカンバを燃やす迎え火を見ると、「あー、お盆だなー。」と、落ち着いた気分になりやす。(^^)

Today is the first day of the Obon. Obon is a Japanese religious custom to pray for ancestors. Many people go back to their hometown to visit family’s graves during Obon season.

Every household welcomes back its ancestors’ departed souls to this world during this period, which is usually from August 13 through 15.

In the area in which I live, we clean the graves of our ancestors and family members. And, we prepare the vegetable horses or oxen, which are supposed to carry the returning souls. They are called “Syouryou Uma”. A photo is “Syouryou Uma” which my children made today.

Furthermore, we make fires at the entrance of house, in order to welcome the returning souls on the first day of the Obon period, August 13th. Fires light up the pathways from the graves to the homes and lead the returning souls to their homes. This custom is called “Mukaebi”. A photo is “Mukaebi” in front of my house of today.

That is, the soul of ancestors, such as a grandpa and a grandma who passed away during the Obon period goes back their home.

We make fires again on the evening of the 16th to send the souls off. This custom is called “Okuribi”.

Thus, Japanese people respect the dead and have the custom of living with the souls. 

迎え火（Mukaebi）

精霊馬（Syouryou Uma）

おまけで蝉の抜け殻と護国神社の鳥居。(^^;