Obon is a Japanese festival that takes place every summer. Though contemporary Obon festivals have been secularized, the traditions date back hundreds of years and are rooted in Buddhism.

According to Obon tradition, it is believed that ancestors return to the living world as spirits once a year to visit their families. Common Japanese Obon customs include visiting the graves of ancestors, cleaning them, making food offerings, and hanging lanterns outside their houses to guide the spirits back home. Once Obon concludes, floating lanterns are then sent out in bodies of water to help guide the spirits back to where they came.

In addition to remembering ancestors, Obon is a celebration that brings families together, with many communities holding public festivals. Attendees can enjoy games, food vendors, bonfires, watermelon smashing, and a folk dances known as bon odori (Obon dance). These dances vary from region to region in Japan, and Japanese immigrants in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other countries have created new dances as well.

Obon is sometimes celebrated in July, and sometimes August. This is because it is meant to be observed in the 7th month of the year, which varies depending the calendar you follow. Under the lunar calendar, August is the 7th month of the year, while the solar calendar recognizes July as the 7th month. Many areas still choose to host Obon festivals in August.