夏休み (Natsu Yasumi) – Summer vacation

29th July – 文月

From the end of July till early September, school kids have summer vacation in Japan. For most of adult who work at office, they also can get few days off in the middle of August. The common thing is that Japanese companies are mostly difficult to get continuous holidays, so this season is very precious in order to see the family members living separately. Many go for travel, many go back to hometown to see relatives and friends.

However, for the school kids, a number of schools cut the summer vacation shorter than usual due to the Covid-19 shock – Many schools had to shut during March to April.

Normally school kids struggle with holiday homeworks such as 自由研究 (Jiyuu Kenkyu = Research based on free theme), 読書感想文 (Dokusho Kansou Bun = Book report) and 朝顔観察日記 (Asagao Kansatsu Nikki = Observation recording of flower, morning glory). Some kids wait until the last day of holiday to start them, and despair why they did not do it before… Seems like this year this is not like usual, so probably they feel half happy, half sad?! Less homeworks but less vacay.

For the adult, most of them can take holiday around 15th August (some region can be around 15th July), as this period is the time when ancestors come back to earth from heaven, called お盆 (Obon).

In お盆, families welcome ancestors and treat them well to be able to send back to heaven again. On the first day of お盆, families burn fire in front of the house, called 迎え火(Mukae bi) to make a sign for ancestors to come to the house.

Families put white paper lantern without patterns in front of house door and Buddhist alter so that ancestors will not be lost on the way. During this period, family member come to the house and go to grave together to pray for the ancestors. At home, they prepare the Buddhist alter with decorations – offering snacks, seasonal fruits and vegetables, horse doll made of cucumber and cow doll made of egg plants. For the veggie dolls, the reason why horse and cow are chosen is, wishing ancestors to come smoothly by riding horse and to go back to heaven slowly by riding cow.

On the last day of お盆, burning fire in front of the house again, this one is called 送り火 (Okuri bi) to send ancestors back to heaven safely.

The continuous holidays taken in Japan most likely fall on the days for family traditional event – End of the year, New year and Obon. Hopefully this year, no virus are transfered to the regional areas from the Covid-19 affected area. Wising this pandemic finishes as soon as possible so all can finally enjoy traveling!