Japanese Welcome Spring after a Long Winter on Vernal Equinox Day

After a long winter, the Japanese look forward to a day off on March 20th in celebration of Vernal Equinox Day, or Shunbun no hi. This public holiday is celebrated annually on the day when the sun crosses the equator making day and night equal in length. On this day everyone is encouraged to celebrate all living things and welcome the arrival of spring through the appreciation of nature and all the beauty it holds. 

With the arrival of spring comes the arrival of new beginnings. In addition to being with family and in nature, people use this time to “renew their lives” and have a fresh start with the new season. In order to do this, people will thoroughly clean their homes and make some important life changes they have been putting off, such as acquiring a new hobby or finishing something they started. 

For farmers, the vernal equinox is also a very important time. They use the holiday to pray for good luck and fortune regarding their crops during the upcoming season. 

During the Vernal Equinox also comes a time known as Higan. Higan is a seven day period where the Japanese pay respect to their ancestors. During this time it is popular for Japanese to visit their ancestors and loved ones’ grave sites and pay homage to them by cleaning their graves and leaving gifts to show respect. Taking advantage of the day off, many Japanese will also return to their childhood homes to be with their family. 

Sept 22 Japan Celebrates Autumnal Equinox

Autumnal Equinox Day is a public holiday in Japan, falling on the date of the Southward equinox in Japan Standard Time. This year the holiday will be celebrated on September 22nd. 

Originally related to Shintoism, the holiday was reconstructed to be a non-religious holiday -- for the sake of the separation of religion and state. 

It was officially declared a public holiday in 1948. In many cultures equinox day simply marks the changing of seasons, but to the Japanese it represents a way to pay respects to parents, grandparents, and other loved ones who have passed. 

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The Japanese refer to this period of time as "higan", meaning "other side of the river". Lasting for seven days, beginning three days before the equinox and ending three days after, higan is a time when the Japanese pray for their ancestors and visit family graves. This tradition has roots deep within the Buddhist tradition. Higan represents a side of the river in which people live, the other side is the realm where the souls who have passed live on.  

The Japanese people pay their respects in various ways, including cleaning the tombstones of their loved ones, offering flowers and food, praying, and burning incense. One of the more popular and traditional foods to offer is ohagi, adzuki-bean paste or soybean flour covered rice. 

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Bon, which occurs in August, is a time in Japanese culture when the souls of their ancestors come to visit them, so it is important to honor them by returning the visit during higan.