＜＜日本の事を英語で話そう＞＞
Obon is an annual Buddhist event usually from August 13th to 15th, or in some areas from July 13th to 15th.
お盆は、8月13日から15日、地域によっては7月13日から15日にかけて毎年行われる仏教の行事です。
It is believed that the spirits of the ancestors return to their former families during this period, .
この時期に先祖の霊が生前の家族のもとに帰ってくると信じられてます。
People return to their hometowns during this period and visit the family graves to pay respect and give offerings.
人々は、この時期故郷に戻り、墓参りをしてお供え物をあげます。
The week of Obon is considered Bon-yasumi or Bon vacation. As many people return to their hometowns
or take trips during this period, railroad stations and airports are packed with travelers and roads are also
serious jammed.
お盆の週は、盆休みつまりお盆の休暇期間と考えられています。この期間中に多くの人が帰省したり、
旅行に出かけるので､鉄道や空港は旅行客で大混雑し,道路も大渋滞になります。。
Bon-odori or the Japanese traditional folk dance festival is held in the neighborhood in the evening during the Bon season.
お盆の時期に日本の伝統的な踊りである盆踊り大会が、近所で夕方行われます。
Many people with yukata (summer kimono) dance to the Bon festival songs around a stage called “Yagura”.
浴衣を着た多くの人が「やぐら」と呼ばれるステージの周りで盆踊りの曲に合わせて踊ります。
Bon festival dance is originally an event to calm the spirits of the ancestors that came back during Obon.
盆踊りは、もともとはお盆に帰ってきた先祖の霊をなだめる行事です。
Nowadays we enjoy Bon festival dance as a recreational event and its religious meaning is weakened.
近頃は、盆踊りをリクリエーションの行事として楽しんでおり、宗教的な意味は弱まっています。