Connecting with the Past: Obon and Samhain
Welcome back dear readers and we are very happy to see you again in our cozy corner of the Wide Island webzine on this fine fall day. It is finally the fall vibes we all would have hoped for on Halloween but what can one do?
Something about fall just reminds us to slow down and reassess things, (probably because our brains aren’t boiling in the heat, but we’d like to think it’s a little more magical than that). Anyways, while pondering these things we often find ourselves wanting the simple comforts of home, and if this is your first year here or even your fourth or sixth year it can be hard to be so far from loved ones. Not to mention holidays often conjure up memories of those who have already passed and can leave us feeling both nostalgic and blue.
Like everyone else witches too seek comfort from the bonds of family and do so at their altar space. A witch’s altar is simply a space where a witch conducts their spiritual practice, and one of these altars may be an ancestor altar. Sometimes this can be all in the same place or it can be separate.
Throughout the year, although at this time especially, witches often leave offerings for ancestors and family who have passed. They consult their advice via tarot or simply seek to be near that space to feel the comfort of family. If a witch observes the wheel of the year and or the Irish/Scottish/Welsh pagan path, they will most certainly observe Samhain. It was in light of this that we thought that today would be a good opportunity to discuss Samhain, Obon and what happens when ghosts pop by for a visit.
Now we understand dear readers that both Samhain and Obon have already passed. However, in lue of the upcoming holidays we thought we’d take a look at them and reflect on connecting with home and loved ones ahead of one of the toughest parts of the year for expats. So, grab your favorite hot drink of choice and a sweet to nibble on and let us begin with Samhain.
Both Obon and Samhain work around the idea that at a particular time of the year the veil between our world and the world of the spirits thins and allows for those spirits to pass through and return home for a time. Samhain begins at dusk on the 31rst of October and continues until the night of November 1rst. It marks the changing of the seasons between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. Now the modern celebration of Samhain and what would have been done in olden days are different as any witch or archaeologist can tell you. What really happened in actual practice is shrouded in mystery which is quite fitting given when it is celebrated. People made lovely creepy little turnip lanterns and used them to light the samhain fire and to carry home and light their own hearths.
At this time spirits both good and malevolent can exert their influence over the human world more easily. It was thought that it was better to observe a time of peace since the spirits and the fae would be close, both having a tendency to meddle in human affairs with disastrous results for the humans involved. It was believed that your ancestors too would cross this barrier, but it wasn't until much later in history that the “dumb” supper tradition began. This was the act of inviting deceased relatives to eat for that night while catching them up on the events of the year.
In modern practice, witches decorate their altars and leave offerings for ancestors and deities. Some may belong to a coven and participate in bonfires or other celebrations. For most it is a time to be close to ancestors and loved ones who have passed. Things that spirits loved in life like a favorite flower or object may be placed on the altar. They may also hold dinners and invite deceased loved ones and ancestors to join while decorating their home with fall items and juniper. After November 1rst, the veil broadens and the spirits will have returned to their side before sunrise.
Obon, however, occurs during the summer and this time is entirely dedicated to family members who have passed. Celebrated from August 13th to the 15th, this is a time where families may return to their hometowns to participate in celebrations, although recently it has been changing. The origins of Obon are unclear but Obon has a 500 year history steeped in Buddist traditions, with some historians placing the start of this tradition with a follower of Buddah who had a vision of his deceased mother being trapped in the realm of hungry ghosts. He made offerings of food and drink releasing her from that realm and ending her suffering.
Obon rituals vary from family to family but often begin with preparing the Shouryou Uma (精霊馬). They are an eggplant and a cucumber with chopsticks for legs, with the cucumber representing a horse and the eggplant a cow. The goal is that your family members and ancestors will come from the spirit world quickly using the horse and return slowly on the back of the cow.
On the first day of Obon, families may light a small fire called an ogara (麻幹). The reason behind this fire is that it will generate enough smoke to allow your ancestors to follow it home. There will be festivals like the Bon Dori that welcome the spirits as they make their ways back to their former earthly home. It is meant to be lively and entertaining for the ghosts and those who view the celebrations with the Gifu Gujo Odori (郡上おどり) being one of the most spectacular of the bon odori festivals.
Throughout the three days of obon, families will visit the graves of loved ones, clean them and tend to them. This is called ohaka maeri. It is very important to clean the graves with care and reverence and to leave sake and perhaps a snack for the deceased person while you pay your respects. Flowers and water are also common offerings as well.
On the final day of Obon, it’s time for the spirits to prepare for their sojourn home. Families guide the spirits back to the other realm with traditional chochin lanterns (提灯), but you may also see floating lanterns called toro nagashi (灯籠流し). The lights act as the path guides for the spirits to take after they have enjoyed their time with their family and eaten their fill of favorite snacks and sake. Some prefectures, like Kyoto and its Gozan no Okuribi (五山の送り火) , prefer to light massive bon-fires to act as the guiding torch for the spirits to head home.
From looking at these two festivals, we can see the importance of reflection and connecting back to your roots. Obon and Samhain encourage reflection in that this is a time for thinking about our progress. Both holidays invite ancestors and passed loved ones to see our lives and feel reassured that we are well and happy, allowing us to share our milestones with them. Remember, dear readers, moving countries is no small feat. you should feel pride in the bravery it took you to undertake this venture and to decide to experience a world unlike your own.
Both holidays also cause us to pause on our connections. We as expats feel the absence of these deeply, whether that be from the loss of a family member, feeling disconnected from friends and family back at home or if you’re experiencing culture shock and have come to the lowest part of the curve feeling disconnected from who you are. Reassess your connections and reach out to friends old and new, think about the people you want in your life dear readers, what connections are worth maintaining and which ones is it time to say goodbye to. Many good things much like life itself cannot last forever and at times it is important and healthy for us to let go of what is no longer working.
Both of these festivals also highlight the importance of cherishing the new branches we make, and this very much includes the relationships we create for ourselves, like our friends and partners. It is not always seen as such but the connections you make here will also shape you and may be the subject of reflection years down the road. Look at how these people have helped you shape yourself for better or worse. Think about the tree you are making for yourself and what you hope to see.
We in no way started this piece intending to get philosophical but we feel that these things are often overlooked when people discuss these festivals. We tend to focus on the food and the fun and not so much on the emotional impact they can have on us and or the things that we can learn from them as we experience them. We hope that you enjoyed this look at Obon and Samhain and that as the season progresses that you take the time to pause and reflect even if it’s just for a moment.
Until next time,
The Witches of Wide Island
