Tanabata

Every year August brings an special date: Tanabata. I’m not sure that the correct name for this special season is that, because after my recently researching I think it is more correctly called Obon Festival. For me, it is the date when ancestor's spirits come back for visits us.

My grandparents were Okinawan, and our family always tried to preserve all the traditions as possible. My aunt has a butsudan at her house and my cousins as well.

Obon is celebrated for three days according with the lunar calendar. The first day is called "Unke" (Welcome Day), the second "Nakanuhi", and the penultimate day "Ukui" (Escorting Day).

As child I used to be visiting my aunt in Unke and Ukui, but the last years I only could attend on Ukui, to say goodbye. In this day, family offers food to the spirits and light senko (incense). Always represented for me a chance to spend some time with my family.