« Wanted!! | Main | Too little vocab »

Living with dead people

Thursday, 14 July

I was busy last night. I totally forgot about my family tradition yesterday. I didn't even bother to return calls after hearing my parents' repetitive angry voice messages. July 13th was the day to welcome the dead ancestors. It's a Buddhist observance honoring the ancestral sprits. (Yeah, my father is a Buddhist so I was raised in a Catholic/Buddhist family.) Anyway, since I forgot about the thing yesterday, my parents rescheduled their thing and planned on doing it today instead. I went to my parents' right after work and did what we had to do. We lit a torch like object and put it on the earthenware. Because it is believed that the sprits of the ancestors need to have their way illuminated to guide them, we lit it at the entrance to welcome them. It's called "Mukaebi".(welcoming light if you translate it directly) Not many people nowadays do this but my parents are very tradition oriented. Even after I moved out, it's mandatory for me. The dead ancestors are supposed to be staying for a week, and we light another torch a week later to guide them to get out. Ergo, my parents and my sister live with dead people technically. I didn't welcome them at my home so I am good? I don't know. I used to see my dead great grandfather when I was little during this season. I hope I won't run into him this year. I today realized for the first time that taking a photo of fire was difficult. Something new. :-) Okay, heading back home.

09:05 PM Neo-Japanese | Permalink | Comments (5) | (0)

Comments

What did your great grandfather do or say when you saw him?

Posted by: Sven at July 15, 2005 05:01 AM

Well, it's kinda spooky but I have never seen him alive as he died long before I was born. I always saw him in front of the fridge in kitchen when I was thirthty to get something to drink at an early morning. He was a very negative unhappy person from what I understand. He mentioned something bad would happen to me in the future. The most prominent incident was when I was 10. He told me not to take an escalator at the station while commuting to school by subway on that day. 3 people got killed in a stampede on the escalator at the station and I was literally saw that happen by the escalator while taking the stairs. That was really scary.... Anyway, stuff like that. But the way he talks is really depressing. He should cheer up a little.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by!

Posted by: Shigeki at July 15, 2005 05:27 AM

Were you able to talk to him as well?

Posted by: Sven at July 16, 2005 09:44 PM

Hi Sven,

Yes, I talked to him as well. Sometimes, I see dead people and they start talking to me. So do I. I know it starts to sound crazy...

Posted by: Shigeki at July 17, 2005 04:30 PM

Not cazy, but interesting :)

Posted by: Sven at July 17, 2005 07:47 PM

Post a comment


If you add more than 1 link in your comment, it will be recognized as a junk comment. Please let me know if you leave a comment with 2 or more links. Also, the first timer's comment may have to be reviewed on some occasions... I do apologize for your inconvenience. Thanks.




Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)