>> Atomic Bomb Fires are Still Burning
Silently--Candle Night 1 Pi:ce
>> Ice Candles Shedding the Lights on Snowy Towns
>> Feeling comfortable and part of Nature--Walking in the dark by Jun Nakano
>> A Ceremony to Send Insects Off --"Mushi Okuri"
>> Candle Night with Turban Shells and Waste Cooking Oil
>> Message Sent from Antarctica--Candlescape
>> Beautiful Fireflies Glowing in the Dark
>> Dialogue in the Dark
>> Many People Enjoyed Candle Night--Candle Night Saskatchewan, Canada
>> Candle Night in Zenryouji Temple--'Go home make a wish'
>> Recreating Ancient Night of 'Heian' Dynasty--Lights-down at Kyoto Gyoen Forests
>> Luminaria di Santa Croce--A Festival in Italy
>> Brighten up Afghanistan with Used Candles
>> Candles for Hope and Courage--Relay For Life 2007 in Ashiya, Hyogo
>> A Family's Wishes on Candle Night--The Story of Ivory
>> Lights in Terraced Rice Paddy Field--Minamata, Japan
>> Candle Night on YouTube
>> Easter in Romania
>> Lucia Celebration in Sweden
>> Milk Carton Lanterns Lighting up Kumamoto
>> Beeswax candle workshop and volunteer meeting at JFS
>> Star Festival in Hokkaido
>> The Red Candles and the Mermaid
Star Festival in Hokkaido
On August 7th, the night of Tanabata, the Star Festival according to lunar calendar, groups of children walk around neighborhoods knocking at each door singing "Ro-so-ku da-se-yo" meaning "give us candles," or we will scratch you. (The phrases vary from region to region.) Then residents give them some sweets. This practice originated from an old tradition of visiting neighbors to ask for candles during Obon, the period that ancestor's souls are said to come home. Recently most residents serve children sweets instead of candles. This is similar to "Trick or Treat" in the Halloween of Western countries, isn't it? Although there are only a few towns in
Hokkaido who still observe this annual event, children in those areas look forward to the local event and enjoy it every year.
December 10, 2004
