CALENDAR
NEW YEAR’S DAY (SHUSHO-E)
January 1st
MEMORIAL FOR SHINRAN SHONIN (HŌONKŌ)
January 16th
MEMORIAL FOR SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA OR NIRVANA DAY (NEHAN-E)
February 15th
SPRING AND AUTUMN EQUINOX (O-HIGAN)
March 17th-23rd & September 17th-23rd
BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI’S BIRTHDAY (HANAMATSURI)
April 8th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE Jōdo Shinshū TEACHING (RIKYOKAISHU-E)
April 15th
SHINRAN SHŌNIN’S BIRTHDAY (GOTAN-E)
May 21st
ANCESTOR DAY (OBON-E / URABON-E)
August 15th
PERPETUAL SUTRA CHANTING (EITAIKYO)
At some flexible point during the Autumn
BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT DAY (JŌDO-E)
December 8th
YEAR-END CEREMONY (JŌYA-E)
December 31st
EXPLANATION
New Year’s Day (Shusho-e)
The first day of the year is an opportunity to set goals and reflect on the future. For practitioners of the Nembutsu, it is meaningful to welcome the new year by formally greeting the Buddha. On this occasion, the altar should be clean and orderly, decorated with appropriate offerings and fresh flowers if possible. The New Year’s service typically includes: Shoshinge, Nembutsu, and six Wasan.
Memorial for Shinran Shonin (Hōonkō)
January 16th is dedicated to Shinran Shōnin, founder of this Buddhist school, who passed away in 1262. Hōonkō is a memorial service in which followers remember his legacy and express gratitude to Amida Buddha and Shinran Shōnin for awakening in us infinite light and diamond-like confidence.
Nirvana Day (Nehan-e)
On February 15th, we commemorate the death of Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, who attained final Nirvana more than 2,500 years ago. In his last sermon, the Buddha taught the impermanence of life and the eternity of the wisdom of enlightenment. He urged us to rely on the light revealed in us through his teachings. This day reminds us of his legacy and boundless compassion.
Spring and Autumn Equinox (O-Higan)
O-Higan means "the other shore." During the equinoxes, when day and night are equal, Japanese Buddhist schools celebrate the transition toward enlightenment. It is a time to honor ancestors, visit their graves, and reflect on the six paramitas: charity, ethics, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom. In Jōdo Shinshū, it is an opportunity to acknowledge our limitations and trust in the compassion of Namu Amida Butsu, which is like a bridge between this shore and the other shore.
Buddha Shakyamuni’s Birthday (Hanamatsuri)
On April 8th, we celebrate the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni during the Flower Festival (Hanamatsuri). According to tradition, he was born under an asoka tree in Lumbini Park. It is said that upon his birth, he took seven steps and proclaimed, "I am supreme in the world; this is my last birth." On this day, altars are decorated with flowers, and statues of the baby Buddha are bathed in sweet tea, recalling the heavenly rain that marked his arrival.
Foundation Anniversary (Rikyokaishu-e)
On April 15th, Jōdo Shinshū schools celebrate the anniversary of the completion of the Kyogyoshinsho, the magnum opus of Shinran Shōnin. This text reveals the true teachings of the Nembutsu and the compassion of Amida Buddha, who grants us the merits to attain birth in the Pure Land. This anniversary honors the moment when the universal teachings of the Nembutsu were made accessible to the world.
Shinran Shonin’s Birthday (Gotan-e)
May 21st is a joyful day for Jōdo Shinshū followers, as it marks the birth of Shinran Shōnin in 1173. Persecuted for his revolutionary ideas, he served as a bridge between the monastic and lay worlds, dedicating his life to bringing the Nembutsu teachings to all people, regardless of their background. On this day we express gratitude for his legacy and the light he brought to the world through Amida Buddha’s teachings.
Ancestor Day (Obon-e / Urabon-e)
On August 15th, we honor our ancestors, remembering that their legacy lives within us. This is an opportunity to reflect on impermanence and express gratitude for their efforts and sacrifices, which have shaped our present. As Rennyo Shōnin said: "Those who remain, those who depart, all pass faster than dew drops falling from the leaves."
Perpetual Sutra Chanting (Eitaikyo)
Eitaikyo means "eternally chanting sutras." This tradition, which began in the Edo period, is celebrated annually with the chanting of the three Pure Land sutras. In our community, this event takes place during autumn, connecting us with the Dharma and the compassion of the Buddha.
Buddha’s Enlightenment Day (Jōdō-e)
On December 8th, we commemorate the day the historical Buddha attained enlightenment. According to tradition, after days of intense meditation under the Bodhi tree, he saw through Mara, the lord of illusion, his own ego. In this way Shakyamuni awakened to the interconnectedness of all beings and Dharmas. This day reminds us of our connection to awakening, which is never separate from our existence in samsara.
Year-End Ceremony (Jōya-e)
December 31st is a time to express gratitude and let go of any bad memories or regrets. This day is celebrated by cleaning the altar, offering fresh flowers, and chanting the sutras, renewing in this way our faith for the coming year.
The meaning of celebration
Any celebration contains a message that allows us to deepen our understanding of an aspect of the Buddha's teaching and, at the same time, to share that special occasion with other practitioners.