Autumnal Equinox Day in Japan: What are the reasons for Ohigan and Ohagi? What do we do?

Autumnal Equinox Day is a Japanese national holiday that falls around September 23rd every year, and is known as the day when the length of day and night are roughly equal. Since ancient times, this day has been considered a special day to give thanks to nature and to offer prayers to ancestors. The background to the establishment of Autumnal Equinox Day as a national holiday is related to the "Ohigan" festival, a time for offering prayers to ancestors, and events to give thanks for the harvest. The origins of Autumnal Equinox Day are deeply connected to Japan's ancient agricultural culture and the calendar system based on the movement of the sun . For this reason, Autumnal Equinox Day is not just a national holiday, but holds great significance as a traditional Japanese event.

Both the Autumnal Equinox Day and the Vernal Equinox Day are days when the length of day and night are roughly equal, but they have different meanings and roles. The Vernal Equinox Day symbolizes new beginnings and is a day to celebrate agriculture and the rebirth of nature. On the other hand, the Autumnal Equinox Day marks the beginning of the harvest season, and is a day to give thanks to nature and hold memorial services for ancestors. These holidays are closely linked to Japan's four seasons and serve as traditional Japanese events based on the rhythm of nature. The Autumnal Equinox Day is also called the "middle day of the equinox," and is considered a time to especially respect ancestors, so it is given a different importance from the Vernal Equinox Day. In this way, while both the Vernal Equinox Day and the Autumnal Equinox Day are important holidays, they have different roles.

Autumnal Equinox Day is a day to give thanks to nature and to offer prayers to ancestors, and various events and customs are held throughout Japan on this day. During the "Ohigan" period, which is centered around this day, many families visit graves and spend time together as families to pay respects to their ancestors. Also, on Autumnal Equinox Day, traditional foods such as "Ohagi" are made and offered at Buddhist altars and graves. In addition, in some regions, harvest festivals and shrine festivals are held, and events to give thanks for the autumn harvest are held. These events and customs have been passed down as Japanese cultural customs since ancient times, and many people still participate in them today. Autumnal Equinox Day is a day to reaffirm the deep connection between nature and people's lives, and plays an important role in our culture.

Ohigan is a special period held around the autumnal and vernal equinoxes to honor ancestors. The Ohigan period lasts for a total of seven days, including the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, and during this time people hold events such as visiting graves, cleaning Buddhist altars, and making offerings. The Autumnal Equinox is particularly important as it is the middle day of the equinox, when the days and nights are almost equal, and many people visit graves on this day to renew their gratitude to their ancestors. The word Ohigan comes from the Buddhist term "Higan," which means a state of enlightenment beyond worldly desires. In this way, the Autumnal Equinox and Ohigan are deeply connected in traditional Japanese events and customs.

The custom of eating "Ohagi" on the autumn equinox is one of Japan's traditional customs. Ohagi is a Japanese sweet made of mashed glutinous rice wrapped in red bean paste, and is made in many households during the autumn equinox. The background to this custom is that the red color of red beans has been believed to ward off evil, and ohagi has been used as an offering when holding memorial services for ancestors. Furthermore, since glutinous rice was considered a symbol of a good harvest, it also has the meaning of giving thanks for the autumn harvest. The process of making ohagi is simple; just cook and mash the glutinous rice and wrap it in red bean paste, but making it by hand is an opportunity to cherish time with family. Eating ohagi on the autumn equinox allows us to reaffirm our gratitude to nature and our ancestors, and to pass on Japan's traditional culture to the next generation.

Autumnal Equinox Day is a particularly important day during the Ohigan period, and many Japanese people visit their ancestors' graves. On this day, families visit their ancestors' graves, clean them, and hold memorial services, which is an opportunity to deepen family bonds. When visiting a grave, it is necessary to prepare cleaning tools, offerings, incense, candles, etc. Clean the gravestone with water, remove weeds, and offer offerings and rice balls to express gratitude to your ancestors. It is also useful to include flowers, Buddhist altar implements, matches, and lighters in your list of items to bring. Visiting a grave with your family on the autumnal equinox is not just a custom, but an important event that fosters respect for your ancestors. Through this day, you can reaffirm your family bonds and continue to protect Japanese traditions that should be passed down to the next generation.

Autumnal Equinox Day is a day to give thanks to nature and respect our ancestors, and people visit shrines all over Japan. The reason for visiting shrines on this day is to give thanks for the blessings of nature and the guidance of our ancestors. Many shrines hold special festivals and events to celebrate Autumnal Equinox Day, and local residents participate. For example, some shrines hold harvest festivals and traditional offering ceremonies, which also serve as a place to give thanks to the gods for a good autumn harvest. Visiting a shrine on Autumnal Equinox Day also allows people to reaffirm the importance of living in harmony with the rhythm of nature. By participating in events and events, you can learn about the traditional culture of your region and deepen your ties with your family and community. Visiting a shrine and offering prayers on Autumnal Equinox Day is also an important opportunity to pass on Japanese culture to the next generation.

The autumn equinox is also the time when the heat of summer subsides and you can feel the coming of autumn. Taking advantage of this day to go leaf-peeping with family and friends is a great idea. Around the autumn equinox, the mountains and parks are colored red and yellow, and you can enjoy beautiful scenery. In addition to enjoying the autumn leaves, spending time relaxing in nature can refresh both your body and mind. You can also combine leaf-peeping with a picnic or hike to fully enjoy autumn nature. In addition to the autumn leaves, there are many other autumn scenes to enjoy at this time of year. For example, you can enjoy a meal with autumn flavors or participate in a traditional autumn festival, making the autumn equinox a great day to spend with family and friends. Spending time with nature on the autumn equinox is a great opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy a relaxed time.

On the autumn equinox, it is common to make and enjoy traditional dishes with your family. In particular, "Ohagi" is known as a Japanese confectionery that is indispensable during the autumn equinox. The method of making Ohagi is simple; just cook and mash glutinous rice, and wrap it in red bean paste, but by making it by hand with your family, you can spend warm family time. In addition, it is a good idea to enjoy dishes using seasonal ingredients on the autumn equinox. For example, dishes using chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms, which are autumn flavors, are popular as dishes that give a sense of the season. It is also recommended to gather with your family and eat comforting Japanese dishes such as traditional miso soup and simmered dishes. These dishes are perfect for the autumn equinox, when you are grateful for the blessings of nature and pray for the health of your family. It is also an opportunity to pass on Japanese traditions and culture to the next generation through cooking, so please enjoy it with your family.

Around the Autumnal Equinox, various local festivals and events are held all over Japan. Many of these events are held to give thanks for the autumn harvest and celebrate coexistence with nature, and they strongly reflect the traditions and culture of each region. For example, harvest festivals held at local shrines include ceremonies to pray for a good harvest and stalls selling local specialties, attracting many tourists. Cultural festivals are also held in various places, where traditional dance and music are performed, allowing local residents to come together and enjoy themselves. In addition, local events held around the Autumnal Equinox often offer workshops that the whole family can participate in, as well as a wide range of activities for children. By participating in these local festivals and events, you can learn about the history and culture of the region and feel the arrival of autumn. Have a rich Autumnal Equinox while enjoying the events held all over Japan.

Autumnal Equinox Day is a long-standing holiday in Japan, a day to give thanks to nature and to offer prayers to ancestors. On this day, traditional customs such as visiting graves with family, visiting shrines, or spending time in nature are practiced. Visiting graves deepens family ties by cleaning the graves of ancestors and leaving offerings. Autumnal Equinox Day is also the time when the leaves begin to change color, so it is recommended to enjoy hiking and picnics with your family. In addition, it is customary to make ohagi at home, offer them at the Buddhist altar, and eat them together. Cooking dishes that incorporate the flavors of autumn is also one of the unique pleasures of Autumnal Equinox Day. Spending Autumnal Equinox Day experiencing these Japanese cultures as a family can pass on gratitude to nature and ancestors to the next generation. Autumnal Equinox Day will be an opportunity to create precious time to spend with your family.

The Autumnal Equinox is also known as the Autumnal Higan, and is a day to express gratitude to Buddha.

It is an event beloved by Japanese people, where people offer prayers for their ancestors and visit graves and shrines .

On this autumnal equinox, the hours of daylight are shorter on the calendar.
It is also a turning point when the evening hours begin to increase.

In contrast to the Vernal Equinox in spring, in the Northern Hemisphere it is also a day to give thanks for bountiful harvests.

This marks the autumnal equinox in Japan.

This is an important day for Japanese people to enjoy the changing leaves and flavors of autumn, and to spend precious time with family, with these customs and rituals being carried out every year.