This week, millions of Japanese will celebrate “Shunbun no Hi”, (the spring equinox). As part of a seven-day festival called “Haru no Higan”, Sanbun no Ho marks the official change of seasons from winter to spring and falls on the day of the year when hours of daylight and night are of equal length.
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Since holidays are governed by astronomical cycles, Shunbun no Hi can fall anywhere between March 19th and 22 marchRaAnd this year, it takes place on March 20.th.
A centuries-old tradition, this holiday was formerly known as “Higan no Nakaba” and was an opportunity to pay tribute to ancestors. It was a time to visit family cemeteries, clear debris from graves, and leave offerings of freshly cut flowers or food.
These days, Shunbun no Hi is seen as an opportunity to clean and freshen up the house (a spring clean, if you will), take up new hobbies, and generally spend some quality time with loved ones.
Farmers and other land-workers often celebrate Shunbun no Hi by praying for good fortune and good weather for the coming months to ensure a bountiful harvest.
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