HIGAN — The Equinoctial Week in Japan


Japanese Ohagi

Japanese Ohagi

Today is the Autumn Equinox Day and it’s a national holiday in Japan!

During both the Spring and Autumnal Equinox, Higan, Buddhist memorial services are held in Japan.

This year, the autumn Higan is held between 20th and 26th.

People pay their respects at family graves during Higan.

The offering people make for the memorial services is botamochi in spring and ohagi in autumn.

They are basically sweet red-beans-paste coated sticky rice, and practically the same sweets.

Because both are named after the flowers that bloom in the season, they are called differently by the season.

 

This is JAPAN Style!

 

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