1. Visiting Graves
We are doing this, because we cherish our ancestor.
2. Placing a Flower and Food on Buddhist Altars
We are doing this, because we believe that our ancestor will be glad to be placed a flower, food or so on.
3. Eating "shojinryori"
We eat "shojinryori" when we have a funeral ceremony or a Buddhist memorial service.
We are doing this, because at these events, we mustn't eat meat or fish, so we eat only vesitable food.
4. Not Sending New Year's Card If Someone in Our Family Die
We are doing this, because if someone in our family die, we are not happy, so we can't say "Happy New Year."
5. Going to the Shrine to Listen to Buddihst Monk's Speech
Some people go to the shrine at regular intervals in order to listen to Buddhist monk's speech.
We are doing this, because we want to know the world of Buddhism.
Is that realted to buddhism that not sending new years cards when someone dead? I thought that it just realated to their sad feeling!
返信削除Hi anpanman san,
返信削除Your blog is lovely!
I did not know about sending cards, either though I had been thinling of ther reason!
>happiness
返信削除If we were Christian, we would send Christmas cards, wouldn't we?
Even if one of our family passed away, if we were a Christian, would we send a Christmas cards, right?
So, I thought not sending new years cards can be related to the Buddhism.
But it can be related to the Shinto.
Anyway, thanks for your comment!!!
>Chuck
返信削除Thnaks for your comment.
The reason why we don't send New Year's Cards when one of our family died is that it is not happy to say "Happy New Year" to other people.
So, we don't send New Years Cards as a way not to express our happy feelinds.
Hi there,
返信削除your #4 never came up to my mind, but it's a very interesting custom of Japan! I wonder when this thing started.. good one! x
In America, we do not have the custom of NOT sending Christmas cards when somesone dies. In the old days, wives used to wear black for 1 year after the death of their husbands. Nowadays, this custom is not practiced. Very interesting comments!
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