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FESTIVAL OF SOULS

When is Festival of Souls in 2024?

Festival of Souls in 2024 is on the Tuesday, 13th of Aug (8/13/2024).

Festival of Souls is on the 226th day of 2024. There are 140 days left in the year.

Festival of Souls Facts

  • Date: Aug 13, 2024
  • National
  • Also Called: Obon
  • Celebrations: Bon dance
Festival of Souls iImage Credit: PhotoXpress

The Festival of Souls also referred as Obon, is a Buddhist celebration, celebrated during July in Japan and August in China. This is not an official national holiday.

The Japanese believe that during this period the souls of their ancestors return to their homes on earth. This is the time when people can guide and help their ancestors' spirits to find peace.

During this festival of period 3 days, families hang lanterns outside their houses and beside the graves to welcome the souls to home, variety of food are offered to the souls of ancestors. During this period people gather for outdoor dances known as Bon dance.

There is a story behind this festival, there was a Buddhist monk named Mokuren. After his mother's death, he had a vision that her mother's soul is not in peace because of the life she lived on earth. He asked his Guru how he could help his mother. His Guru told him he had to perform good deeds within the community in order to balance his mother's bad deeds so that her soul could get peace. Mokuren worked as per his Guru's advice and when he realized that his mother's soul was now at peace due to his good deeds, he broke into a joyful dance of relief that is known as the Bon dance

Festival of Souls Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Mon
  • Jul 13, 2009
  • Festival of Souls(solar date)
  • Tue
  • Jul 13, 2010
  • Festival of Souls(solar date)
  • Wed
  • Jul 13, 2011
  • Festival of Souls(solar date)
  • Fri
  • Aug 31, 2012
  • Festival of Souls(solar date)

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of Japan in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
MondayMonJan 01, 2024Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 08, 2024Jan 08Coming of Age Day
SundaySunFeb 11, 2024Feb 11National Foundation Day
MondayMonFeb 12, 2024Feb 12Foundation Day Observed
FridayFriFeb 23, 2024Feb 23Emperor's Birthday
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20Spring Equinox
MondayMonApr 29, 2024Apr 29Showa Day
FridayFriMay 03, 2024May 03Constitution Memorial Day
SaturdaySatMay 04, 2024May 04Greenery Day
SundaySunMay 05, 2024May 05Children's Day
MondayMonJul 15, 2024Jul 15Marine Day
SundaySunAug 11, 2024Aug 11Mountain Day
TuesdayTueAug 13, 2024Aug 13Festival of Souls (Obon)
MondayMonSep 16, 2024Sep 16Respect for the Aged Day
SundaySunSep 22, 2024Sep 22Autumn Equinox Day
MondayMonOct 14, 2024Oct 14Health and Sports Day
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03Culture Day
MondayMonNov 04, 2024Nov 04Culture Day Observed
SaturdaySatNov 23, 2024Nov 23Labor Thanksgiving Day
WednesdayWedDec 25, 2024Dec 25Christmas Day

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
FridayFriJan 12, 2024Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
FridayFriJan 19, 2024Jan 19National Popcorn Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02National Wear Red Day
WednesdayWedFeb 07, 2024Feb 07National Signing Day
FridayFriFeb 09, 2024Feb 09National Pizza Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Valentine's Day
ThursdayThuFeb 15, 2024Feb 15National Bagel Day
SundaySunFeb 18, 2024Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22National Margarita Day
ThursdayThuFeb 29, 2024Feb 29Leap Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01National Employee Appreciation Day
ThursdayThuMar 07, 2024Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 10, 2024Mar 10Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11National Napping Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Walkout Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Pi Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20National Proposal Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23National Puppy Day
SaturdaySatMar 30, 2024Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 03, 2024Apr 03National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 04, 2024Apr 04National Burrito Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07National Beer Day
ThursdayThuApr 11, 2024Apr 11National Pet Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 02, 2024May 02National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12Mother's Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Towel Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 07, 2024Jun 07National Donut Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Father's Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21National Selfie Day
SaturdaySatJun 22, 2024Jun 22National Kissing Day
SaturdaySatJul 13, 2024Jul 13National French Fry Day
SundaySunJul 14, 2024Jul 14National Nude Day
WednesdayWedJul 17, 2024Jul 17National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21National Ice Cream Day
TuesdayTueJul 23, 2024Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
WednesdayWedJul 24, 2024Jul 24National Tequila Day
MondayMonJul 29, 2024Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
ThursdayThuAug 01, 2024Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04National Sister Day
WednesdayWedSep 18, 2024Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Vodka Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Taco Day
WednesdayWedOct 09, 2024Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 19, 2024Oct 19Sweetest Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29National Cat Day
ThursdayThuOct 31, 2024Oct 31Halloween
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 29, 2024Nov 29Black Friday
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07Candle Day
MondayMonDec 09, 2024Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 20, 2024Dec 20National Ugly Sweater day