In ancient Japan, it was believed that the spirits of their dead ancestors would come back to this world for a short period of time, and this belief still exists everywhere in Japan, especially in rural areas.

The “Obon” period starts on August 13, when people get ready to welcome their dead ancestors.

On the 14th and 15th, they spend time with the spirits of their ancestors, and the next day, on the 16th, they see them off.

On the night of the 16th, Japanese people have a traditional dance called “bon dance.”
At the Closing Ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games, they were performing a bon dance.

Anyway, many Japanese people take a vacation during the Obon period, go back to their home towns, meet their families or relatives, and spend time peacefully thinking of their dead ancestors.

In order to welcome the ancestors’ spirits, Japanese people make “a cucumber horse” and “an eggplant ox” like the picture above, and put them on a “Bon” shelf as offerings.

It is said that the ancestors will ride on the cucumber horse to come and go, while the eggplant ox can carry their baggage.