Explaining the meaning of visiting a grave on the anniversary of death and the anniversary of the month

There are many people who visit the graves on the Obon festival and the equinoctial week. Even if you cannot easily visit the grave because the grave is far away, if you go home to visit the grave, you will often find it in the Obon festival or the equinoctial week. In Japan's general grave visit season, you will have a strong impression of Obon and equinoctial week.

However, visiting graves is not limited to Obon and equinoctial week. Have you ever heard the story of "visiting a grave on the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death"? It is common practice to visit a grave on the anniversary of the death of the deceased (death anniversary or anniversary).

As basic knowledge of graves, we will explain about visiting graves on the anniversary of death and the anniversary of death. Let's think about the meaning of visiting the grave once again. If you are asking, "What is the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death?", Why not review your future grave visit schedule within a reasonable range after learning about grave visits other than equinoctial week and Obon? .. This is a must-see for those who say, "Every year, Obon and the equinoctial week are busy with work and I am overwhelmed by the schedule" and "I am thinking about visiting graves other than Obon and the equinoctial week because the grave is far away."

What kind of anniversary is the anniversary of death or the anniversary of death?

Have you ever heard of visiting a grave on "death anniversary" and "monthly anniversary"? Some of the people I heard for the first time this time should say, "My house doesn't visit the grave so often ...". This is because whether or not to visit a grave on the anniversary of death or anniversary depends on the customs and ways of thinking of each family and region.

Anniversary is the "day when the deceased died". Anniversary is the "monthly anniversary of the death of the deceased". This is a little difficult to understand. Let me give you an example for clarity.

Mr. A, a family member, died on December 3rd. This is the anniversary of death. To be precise, the anniversary of death is called "Shotsuki Meinichi". The month and date of the person's death is called the "death anniversary". On the other hand, the anniversary of the death of the month is a word that refers to the "date of the death of the person in each month" on the 3rd of every month. In the case of Mr. A, the date of his death is the anniversary of his death, such as January 3, February 3, March 3, April 3, May 3, and so on. December 3rd is the anniversary of death, and the remaining 3 days of the 11 months are the anniversary of death.

On the anniversary of death or anniversary, memorial services such as visiting a grave are often held.

One of the meanings of visiting a grave is to pray for the souls of the dead and a peaceful sleep. It has a strong meaning of "a memorial service for the deceased", but it also has the meaning of "the remaining family accepts the death of the deceased and organizes their minds". Visiting a grave on the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death may be of great significance in terms of your heart.

In particular, the anniversary of the death is the anniversary of the anniversary of the break, and a large memorial service involving the monk is held. Even in years when there is no memorial service as a delimiter, it seems that many homes are equipped with the deceased's favorite foods, flowers, fruits, sweets, etc. and put their hands on the altar and grave on the anniversary of their death.

After the third anniversary, the memorial service will be held in the year including "3" and "7" on the anniversary of death. In some regions, the 33rd anniversary is the last, but in other regions it is natural to do up to the 50th anniversary. The way of thinking about the memorial service varies considerably depending on the region and sect.

How to make a memorial service on the anniversary of death

Similarly, the way of thinking about death anniversary and anniversary of death varies considerably depending on the way of thinking about visiting the grave of the house, the way of thinking about the memorial service, the region and the sect.

On the anniversary of death or anniversary, some houses offer a set to the Buddhist altar instead of visiting the grave. The contents of the set are dishes that avoid meat and fish. Boiled beans, white rice, miso soup, pickles, boiled vegetables, etc. In addition, we also offer fresh flowers and incense sticks, and put our hands on the Buddhist altar.

Depending on the region, the anniversary of the death of the moon is very important, and in addition to the anniversary of the death of the moon, after visiting the grave, the Buddhist altar is offered a set, flowers, sweets, etc. There are also regions.

"How big and what kind of memorial service will be done" and "How much emphasis will be placed on the anniversary of the death of the grave, etc." Since it is quite different, you can get more accurate information by checking with the elderly and funeral shops in each area rather than worrying about "what is the national average?"

Of course, there are some homes that are refraining from offering memorial services due to work or family circumstances, even if they place importance on the anniversary of their death.

Do you always visit the grave on the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death?

As a local custom, there are some houses that say, "Not only do you visit the grave on the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death, but there are also some small events." There are many different types of homes in Japan, including those that say, "I've never heard of an anniversary or an anniversary of death. I had the impression that visiting the grave was only on the equinoctial week and the Obon festival."

There are many different lifestyles in Japan. Some homes have graves in the immediate vicinity of their homes, while others are far away and barely accessible. Some Buddhist altars have large Buddhist altars between Buddhist altars, while others have only mortuary tablets and incense holders.

How far will the memorial service be held? How often do you visit the grave? Thinking about the memorial service. And above all, the frequency of visiting graves and memorial services changes depending on the "lifestyle".

Some houses visit the graves on the equinoctial week and the Obon festival, but rarely visit the graves on the anniversary of their death or the anniversary of their death. Knowing the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death does not mean that you have to do it. There is no problem if you visit the grave on the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death at your own pace according to your lifestyle, family schedule, work, etc.

Finally

Anniversary and anniversary are dates that can be said to be a chance to visit a grave. If you used to go home to visit the grave according to the Obon festival or the equinoctial week, you can also visit the grave on the anniversary of your death or the anniversary of your death. Another method is to offer fruits and incense sticks to the Buddhist altar without visiting the grave on the anniversary of death or anniversary.

It is not always necessary to visit the grave or the memorial service on the anniversary of the anniversary of the death, but considering the season when you visit the grave on the equinoctial week or the Obon festival, and the circumstances of your own house, Rather than deciding to visit the grave on the anniversary of the anniversary of the death, it is better to create a memorial service in your own style.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask a funeral shop or temple near you.