Higan

Higan, also known as the Autumnal Equinox, is a significant period in Japan and other East Asian cultures marking the transition from summer to autumn. It is a time associated with remembrance and spirituality. The week around the autumnal equinox is called Ohigan, and it is observed twice a year, once in spring (Shunbun no Hi) and once in autumn.

During Higan, Buddhist traditions hold that the earthly world is closest to the spirit world. This is a time when many people visit the graves of their ancestors, cleaning them and offering flowers, incense, and food. They pray for the souls of the departed and seek blessings. The equinox itself is a day of public holiday in Japan, recognized as Shubun no Hi, a day for celebrating ancestors and commemorating the departed.

Traditional foods associated with Higan include Ohagi, which are rice cakes covered in sweet bean paste, kinako (roasted soybean flour), or sesame seeds. These are often prepared and offered at family altars. The concept of Higan is rooted in Buddhist beliefs about reaching Nirvana, the "other shore," which is symbolized by the equinox when day and night are of equal length, representing a balance between the physical and spiritual realms. This period encourages reflection on life, death, and the cycle of rebirth.