Autumnal Equinox

That's today, and here, it is a national holiday.  With the sporadic rain deluges and thunderstorms that started last evening, son's baseball practice has also been canceled, so we're enjoying a lazy morning.  My agenda for the day is a little translation, a make-up lesson, and a visit to the international library and Starbuck's for a coffee...the last may have end up being canceled as well!!

This morning, spouse said, out of the blue, that we should do "O-haka Mairi," or pay a visit to his family's grave site.  I checked to make sure of the days for paying the visit for Higan, and found some more interesting information about it, and an English reference, too at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higan .

Wikipedia says, "Higan (彼岸) is a Buddhist holiday celebrated in Japan during both the Spring and Autumnal Equinox. It is observed by nearly every Buddhist sect in Japan. The tradition extends from mild weather that occurs during the time of equinoxes, though the origin of the holiday dates from Emperor Shomu in the 8th century.^[1] People who normally worked in the fields had more leisure time to evaluate their own practices, and to make a renewed effort to follow Buddhism. Today, special services are usually observed in Japanese Buddhist temples, and Japanese temples abroad, based on the particular Buddhist tradition or sect."

I've always enjoyed the holidays for spring and autumn equinoxes, though wondered WHY they were national holidays.  Nice to learn a new thing today!