Today is: August 4
Day Week Month

Breastfeeding Week, World

Clown Week, Intl.

Sturgis Rally (US-SD)

Assistance Dog Week, Intl.

EOS Awareness Week, Ntl. (AU)

Exercise with Your Children Week

Farmers' Market Week, Ntl.

Health Center Week, Ntl.

Psychic Week

Stop on Red Week, Ntl.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (AU)

August Civic Holiday (CA)

August Holiday (IE)

August Holiday (IS)

August Public Holiday (AG)

Bank Holiday (AU-NSW)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Ntl.

Clouded Leopard Day, Int.

Coast Guard Day, Ntl. (1790)

Colorado Day (US-CO)(1876)

Dental Health Week (AU)

Emancipation Day Holiday, (BS/GD)(1834)

Exchange Day, Int.

Fiddlers' Convention, Old (US-VA)

Independence Day Holiday, (JM)(1962)

Keep Australia Beautiful Week

Owl Day, International

Picnic Day (AU)

Revolution Day, (BF)(1983)

Simplify Your Life Week

Single Working Women's Day

Single Working Women's Week

Sleep Awareness Week (AU)

Stroke Week (AU)

Youth Day, (ZM)

Homeland Thanksgiving, (HR)(1995)

Night Out (US/CA), Ntl.

Oyster Day

Republic Day, (BF)(1960)

Risk Awareness Week

Shravana Putrada Ekadashi (H)

Underwear Day, Ntl.

Work Like a Dog Day

Fresh Breath Day, Ntl.

Give a Dog a Bone Week

Hiroshima (1945)

Independence Day,(BO)(1825)

Root Beer Float Day (1893)

Wiggle Your Toes Day, Ntl.

Battle of Boyacá Day (CO)(1819)

English-Style India Pale Ale Day, Ntl.

Great River Tug Fest (US-IL/IA)

Independence Day, (CI)(1960)

Lighthouse Day, Ntl. (1789)

Preposterous Packaging Day

Professional Speakers Day

Purple Heart Day, Ntl. (1782)

Raspberries 'n Cream Day

15th of Av (J)

Bonza Bottler Day™, Intl

Cat Day, Intl.

CBD Day, Ntl.

Custard Day, Ntl. Frozen

Digital Nomad Day

Dollar Day, Ntl. (1786)

Elvis Week, Memphis, (US-TN)(1977)

Fried Chicken and Waffles Day

Happiness Happens Day

Infinity Day, Intl.

Jazz, Long Beach Jazz Festival (US-CA)

Jewelry Day, Wear Your Mother's

Lahaina Fire (US-HI)(2023)

Nane-Nane, Farmers' Day, (TZ)

Shabbat Nachamu (J)

Top 8 Challenge Day (AU)

Varalakshmi Vrat (H)

Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day

Book Lovers Day, Intl.

Bowling Day, Ntl.

Garage Sale Day, Ntl.

Indigenous People's Day, World (1982)

Middle Child's Day

Moon—Full

Nagasaki Bombing (JP)(1945)

Narali Purnima (H)

National Day, (SG)(1965)

Polka Day, Ntl.

Raksha Bandhan (Siblings Day) (H)

Rice Pudding Day, Ntl.

Royal Queensland Show Ekka (AU-WA)

Science Week, Ntl.,(AU)

Send an E-card Day

Veep Day (1974)

Bhadrapada (H)

Dog, Spoil Your Dog Day

Duran Duran Appreciation Day, Ntl.

Gay Uncles, Guncles Day

Herbert Hoover Day, (US-IA)

Independence Day, (EC)(1809)

Independence Day, (TD)(1960)

Julienne Fries Day, Ntl.

Lazy Day

Lion Day, World

Paul Bunyan Day (1906)

Resurrect Romance Week, Ntl.

S'more Day, Ntl.

Shapewear Day, Ntl.

Tammuz (J)

Butterfly Count, Big (UK)

Marine Week, Ntl. (UK)

Musikfest (US-PA)

Wisconsin State Fair (US-WI)

Air Force Day (US)(1907)

American Adventures Month

American Artist Appreciation Month (1928)

American Artist Appreciation Month (1928)

Army Day (CN)(1927)

Back-to-School Month

Back-to-School Month

Beer Day, Intl.

Black August (1971)

Black Business Month

Blueberry Month, Ntl. (CA)

Boomers Making a Difference Month

Braham Pie Day (US-MN)

Breastfeeding Month, Ntl.

Breastfeeding Month, Ntl.

Breastfeeding Week, World

Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa (PH)(1878/1944)

Catfish Month, Ntl.

Cheerleading Safety Month

Child Support Awareness Month

Childfree Day, Intl.

Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

Children's Vision and Learning Month

Cinemalaya (PH)

Civility Month, Ntl.

Clown Week, Intl.

Confederation Day, (CH)(1291)

Cupcake Month, Ntl. (AU)

Czech Festival, Ntl (US-NE)

Digestive Tract Paralysis Awareness Month

Dogust, Universal Shelter Dog Birthday

Edinburgh International Fringe Festival (UK)

EFT Tapping Month, Intl.

Eye Exam Month, Ntl.

Family Fun Month

Flu Season Peak, Southern

Gastroparesis Awareness Month

Girlfriends Day, Ntl.

Goat Cheese Month, Ntl.

Golf Month, Ntl.

Great Cycle Challenge (CA)

Hair Loss Awareness Month

Happiness Happens Month

Immunization Awareness Month, Ntl.

Independence Day, (BJ)(1960)

Jeans for Genes Day (AU)

Lughnasadh

Lung Cancer Awareness Day

Mahjong Day, Ntl.

Medic Alert® Awareness Month, World

Miami Spice (US-FL)

Minden Day (UK)(1759)

Minority Donor Awareness Day, Ntl.

Minority Donor Awareness Month

Moon—First Quarter

Motorsports Awareness Month

Neurosurgery Outreach Month (US/CA/MX)

Panini Month, Ntl.

Peach Month

Pirate Month, Int.

Psoriasis Awareness Month

Raspberry Cream Pie Day, Ntl.

Rawgust

Read-a-Romance Month

Relationship Awareness Month

Respect for Parents Day, Ntl.

Romance Awareness Month

Rounds Resounding Day

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (UK)

Rye and Triticale Month

Sandwich Month, Ntl.

Scout Scarf Day, World (1907)

Shabbat Chazon (J)

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month

Sturgis Rally (US-SD)

Summer Sun Safety Month

Tall Timber Days (US-MN)

Tradies National Health Month (AU)

Twins Days, Ntl. (US-OH)

Velociraptor Attack Prevention Month

Vision and Learning Month, Children's

Water Balloon Day, Ntl.

Water Quality Month

Wellness Month, Ntl.

What Will be Your Legacy? Month

Women's Month, (ZA)(1956)

World Wide Web Day, (1990)

Black Pound Day (UK)

Coloring Book Day, Nt.

Disk Golf Day, Ntl.

Dog Surfing Championships, World

Fancy Farm Picnic (US-KY)

Feast of Our Lady of Angels (CR)

Hangover Day, Intl.

Ice Cream Sandwich Day, Ntl.

Jamaican Patty Day

Jazz, Satchmo Summerfest (US-LA)(1901)

Mead Day

Mustard Day, Ntl.

National Day, St. Elias Day (MK)(1903)

Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day, Intl. (1944)

Social Media Holiday, Intl.

Tish'a B'Av (J)

Armed Forces Day (GQ)(1979)

Assistance Dog Week, Intl.

Doll Day, Ntl.

EOS Awareness Week, Ntl. (AU)

Exercise with Your Children Week

Family Day, American

Farmers' Market Week, Ntl.

Friendship Day, World (IN/US)

Grab Some Nuts Day

Health Center Week, Ntl.

Independence Day, (NE)(1960)

Jousting, Torneo della Quintana (IT)

Pidjiguiti Martyrs' Day (GW )(1959)

Psychic Week

Sisters' Day, Ntl.

Stop on Red Week, Ntl.

Watermelon Day, Ntl.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (AU)

August Civic Holiday (CA)

August Holiday (IE)

August Holiday (IS)

August Public Holiday (AG)

Bank Holiday (AU-NSW)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Ntl.

Clouded Leopard Day, Int.

Coast Guard Day, Ntl. (1790)

Colorado Day (US-CO)(1876)

Dental Health Week (AU)

Emancipation Day Holiday, (BS/GD)(1834)

Exchange Day, Int.

Fiddlers' Convention, Old (US-VA)

Independence Day Holiday, (JM)(1962)

Keep Australia Beautiful Week

Owl Day, International

Picnic Day (AU)

Revolution Day, (BF)(1983)

Simplify Your Life Week

Single Working Women's Day

Single Working Women's Week

Sleep Awareness Week (AU)

Stroke Week (AU)

Youth Day, (ZM)

Homeland Thanksgiving, (HR)(1995)

Night Out (US/CA), Ntl.

Oyster Day

Republic Day, (BF)(1960)

Risk Awareness Week

Shravana Putrada Ekadashi (H)

Underwear Day, Ntl.

Work Like a Dog Day

Fresh Breath Day, Ntl.

Give a Dog a Bone Week

Hiroshima (1945)

Independence Day,(BO)(1825)

Root Beer Float Day (1893)

Wiggle Your Toes Day, Ntl.

Battle of Boyacá Day (CO)(1819)

English-Style India Pale Ale Day, Ntl.

Great River Tug Fest (US-IL/IA)

Independence Day, (CI)(1960)

Lighthouse Day, Ntl. (1789)

Preposterous Packaging Day

Professional Speakers Day

Purple Heart Day, Ntl. (1782)

Raspberries 'n Cream Day

15th of Av (J)

Bonza Bottler Day™, Intl

Cat Day, Intl.

CBD Day, Ntl.

Custard Day, Ntl. Frozen

Digital Nomad Day

Dollar Day, Ntl. (1786)

Elvis Week, Memphis, (US-TN)(1977)

Fried Chicken and Waffles Day

Happiness Happens Day

Infinity Day, Intl.

Jazz, Long Beach Jazz Festival (US-CA)

Jewelry Day, Wear Your Mother's

Lahaina Fire (US-HI)(2023)

Nane-Nane, Farmers' Day, (TZ)

Shabbat Nachamu (J)

Top 8 Challenge Day (AU)

Varalakshmi Vrat (H)

Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day

Book Lovers Day, Intl.

Bowling Day, Ntl.

Garage Sale Day, Ntl.

Indigenous People's Day, World (1982)

Middle Child's Day

Moon—Full

Nagasaki Bombing (JP)(1945)

Narali Purnima (H)

National Day, (SG)(1965)

Polka Day, Ntl.

Raksha Bandhan (Siblings Day) (H)

Rice Pudding Day, Ntl.

Royal Queensland Show Ekka (AU-WA)

Science Week, Ntl.,(AU)

Send an E-card Day

Veep Day (1974)

Bhadrapada (H)

Dog, Spoil Your Dog Day

Duran Duran Appreciation Day, Ntl.

Gay Uncles, Guncles Day

Herbert Hoover Day, (US-IA)

Independence Day, (EC)(1809)

Independence Day, (TD)(1960)

Julienne Fries Day, Ntl.

Lazy Day

Lion Day, World

Paul Bunyan Day (1906)

Resurrect Romance Week, Ntl.

S'more Day, Ntl.

Shapewear Day, Ntl.

Afternoon Tea Week (UK)

Allotments Week, Ntl. (UK)

Bargain Hunting Week, Ntl.

Heroes' Day (ZW)

Hip-Hop's Birthday (1973)

Ingersoll Day (1833)

Mountain Day, (JP)

Play in the Sand Day

Presidential Joke Day (1984)

Raspberry Bombe Day, Ntl.

Safe + Sound Week, Ntl.

Son and Daughter Day, Intl.

Steelpan Day, World (1951)

Victory Day (US-RI)(1945)

Bullying No Way

Defense Forces Day (ZW)

Elephant Day, World

Fox Hill Day (BS)

Kajari Teej (H)

Queen's Birthday (TH)(1932)

Sankashti Chaturthi (H)

Sewing Machine Day, Ntl. (1851)

Vinyl Record Day (1877)

Youth Day, Intl.

Filet Mignon Day, Ntl.

Independence Day, (CF)(1960)

Left-hander's Day, Intl.

Little League World Series (US-PA)

Miss Crustacean Beauty Pageant and Hermit Crab Races (US-NJ)

Obon Festival (JP)

Prosecco Day, Ntl.

Women's Day, (TN)

Calligraphy Day, World

Creamsicle Day, Ntl.

Football, AFL Founded (1959)

Green Man Festival (UK)

Independence Day (PK)(1947)

Lizard Day, World

Milwaukee Irish Festival (US-WI) August 14-17 (est)

Navajo Code Talkers Day (1942)

V-J Day (1945)

Admissions Day (US-HI)(1959)

Beautiful Days Festival (UK)

Best Friends Day

Bullying and Violence, Day of Action Against (AU)

Chauvin Day (UK)(1790)

Check the Chip Day, Ntl.

Constitution Day, (GQ)(1982)

Dormition of Theotokos (C)

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Failures Day, Ntl.

Feast of the Assumption of Mary (C)

Independence Day (IN)(1947)

Independence Day, (CG)(1960)

Independence Day, (KR)(1945/1948)

Jyllinge Festival (DK)

Leathercraft Day, Ntl.

Lemon Meringue Pie Day, Ntl.

Men's Grooming Day, Ntl. (UK)

Relaxation Day, Ntl.

Shri Krishna Janmashtami, (H)(3227 BC)

Taliban retake Afghanistan (AF)(2021)

Tech Platform Awareness Day

Twins Day, (FR)

Airborne Day, Ntl. (1940)

Bhadon (S)

Geocaching Day, Intl.

Henley on Todd Regatta (AU-NT)

Heritage Week, Ntl.(IE)

Homeless Animals’ Day, Intl.

Honey Bee Day, World

Moon—Third Quarter

Namibia Genocide (1904)

Restoration of the Republic Day, (DO)(1863)

Roller Coaster Day, Ntl.(1878)

Rum Day, Ntl.

Saint Roch's Day (1327)

T-Rex World Championships (US-WA)

Tell a Joke Day (1738)

Wave at Surveillance Day, Intl

Aviation Week, Ntl. (1871)

Black Cat Appreciation Day, Ntl.

Contact Lens Health Week

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, Ntl.

Feet, I Love My Feet Day

Friendship Day, Women's Ntl.

Independence Day, (GA)(1960)

Independence Day, (ID)(1945)

Made in the Philippines Product Week

Meaning of "Is" Day, Ntl. (1998)

Nonprofit Day, Ntl. (1894)

San Martín Day (AR)(1850)

Simha Sankranti (H)

Thrift Shop Day, Ntl. (1899)

Vanilla Custard Day

Bad Poetry Day

Badge Ribbon Day, Ntl.

Discovery Day, (CA-YT)(1896)

Fajita Day, Ntl.

Healthy Bones Action Week (AU)

Ice Cream Pie Day, Ntl.

Mail Order Catalog Day (1872)

Serendipity Day

Soft Serve Ice Cream Day

Aja Ekadashi (H)

Aviation Day, Ntl. (1871)

Bow Day, Intl.

Humanitarian Day, World (2003)

Independence Day, (AF)(1919)

Orangutan Day, Intl

Photography Day, World (1839)

Popsicle Day (1924)

Potato Day, Ntl.

World's Fair of Money (US-OK)

Bacon Lovers Day, Ntl

Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Ntl.

Dosimetrist Day, Ntl. Medical

Lemonade Day (Varies by City US/ZA/CA)

Mosquito Day, World (1897)

Pecan Pie Day, Ntl. Chocolate

Radio Day, Intl. (1920)

Reading and Leeds Festivals (UK)

Revolution of the King and People Day, (MA)(1953)

Saint Stephen's Day (HU)(1083)

Burger Day, Bleeker Ntl. (UK)

Festival Mode and Design, Montreal (CA-QC)

Poet's Day, Ntl.

Senior Citizens Day, Ntl.(1935)

Spumoni Ice Cream Day

Victims of Terrorism, Day of Remembrance, Intl.

Bao Day, Ntl

Bat Nights, Intl

Be an Angel Day

Daffodil Day (AU)

Hoodie Hoo Day, Southern

Mariachi y la Charrería, Intl. de (MX-JA)

Never Bean Better Day, Ntl.

Pecan Torte Day, Ntl.

Plant Milk Day, World

Surgical Oncologist Day, Ntl. (1947)

Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, Ntl.

Victims Acts of Violence Based on Religious Belief, Day Commemorating, Intl.

Moon—New

Ride the Wind Day (1977)

Slave Trade and its Abolition, International Day for the Remembrance of the (1791)

Sponge Cake Day

Burning Man (US-NV)

Coconut Week, Ntl.(PH)

Flag Day, (LR)(1847)

Go Topless Day*, Intl. (1920)

Independence Day, (UA)(1991)

Knife Day, Ntl.

Notting Hill Carnival, London (UK)

Peach Pie Day, Ntl.

Rabi'ul-Awwal (M)

Redhead Days (NL)

Strange Music Day, Intl.

Vesuvius Eruption (IT)(79AD)

Waffle Day, Ntl. (1869)

William Wilberforce Day (1759)

World Bog Snorkeling Championships (UK)

World Water Week (SE)

Banana Split Day (1904)

Be Kind to Humankind Week

Elul (J)

Founder's Day, National Park Service (1916)

Heroes' Day, (PH)(1896)

Independence Day, (UY)(1825)

Kiss and Make-up Day, Ntl.

Liberation Day, (CN)(1945)

Second-hand Wardrobe Day, Ntl.

Summer Bank Holiday (UK)

Whisky Sour Day, Ntl.

Cherry Popsicle Day

Composites Week, Ntl.

Dog Day, Ntl. (1980)

Ganesh Chaturthi (H)

Hartalika Teej (H)

Heroes' Day (NA)(1966)

Maa Culture Week (KY)

Toilet Paper Day, Ntl. (1871)

Webmistress Day, Ntl.

Women's Equality Day, Ntl. (1920)

Independence Day, (MD)(1991)

Just Because Day

Petroleum and Natural Gas Day (1859), Ntl.

Pots de Crème Day, Ntl.

The Duchess Who Wasn't Day, (1850)

Tomatina, La (ES)

Bowtie Day, Ntl.

Cherry Turnover Day

Cowal Gathering (Highland Games)(UK)

Crackers Over the Keyboard Day

Norman Rayford Day (US-PA)(1972)

Power Rangers Day, Intl. (1993)

Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day

Radio Commercial Day, Ntl. (1922)

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

Rishi Panchami (H)

Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, (US-LA)

Weed Out Hate Day, Ntl. (1963)

According to Hoyle Day (1769)

Blackpool Illuminations (UK)

Chinese Valentine's Day, Qixi Qingren Jie (CN)

Chop Suey Day, Ntl.

College Colors Day, Ntl.

Grand Prix, Dutch (NL)

Herbs Instead of Salt Day

Literacy and Numeracy Week (AU)

Nuclear Testing, International Day Against (1991)

Uprising Day, (SK)(1944)

Afghanistan War Ends (AF)(2021)

Bacon Day, Intl.

Ducasse d'Ath (BE)

Frankenstein Day, Ntl. (1797)

Grief Awareness Day, Ntl.

Holistic Pet Day, Ntl.

Marshmallow Day, Toasted

Owara Kaze No Bon Festival (JP)

Santa Rosa de Lima, (PE)

Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Intl. Day for

Victory Day, (TR)(1922)

Whale Shark Day, Intl.

African Descent, Intl. Day for People of

African Descent, Intl. Day for People of

Constitution Day, (KZ)(1995)

Crankshaft (1987)

Diatomaceous Earth Day, Ntl.

Eat Outside Day

Freedom Day, (MY)(1957)

Independence Day, (KG)(1991)

Independence Day, (TT)(1962)

Legacy Week (AU)

Love Litigators Day, Ntl.

Matchmaker Day, Ntl.

Mother Tongue Day, (MD)(1991)

Overdose Awareness Day, Intl.

Overdose Awareness Week, Ntl.

Radha Ashtami (H)

Trail Mix (GORP) Day, Ntl.

Air Conditioning Appreciation Days

Dog Days of Summer

Tammuz (J)

Three Weeks (J)

Butterfly Count, Big (UK)

Savan (S)

Perseid Meteor Shower

Marine Week, Ntl. (UK)

Ohio State Fair, Columbus (US-OH)

Av (J)

Sravana (H)

Cowes Week (UK)

Safar (M)

Donate Life Week (AU)

Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival (US-IL)(1931)

Lollapalooza, Chicago (US-IL)

Lughnasadh, North

Lumberjack World Championships (US-WI)

Musikfest (US-PA)

Wisconsin State Fair (US-WI)

Scroll to explore events active on this date.

Obon Festival (JP): August 13-16

13 Aug. - 16 Aug. 2025
02:20 AM
Starts in 9 day(s)

Event Description

THE OBON FESTIVAL: A SPECTACLE OF LANTERNS Japan's Obon Festival, also known as Bon Festival, is a Buddhist-Confucian tradition honoring the spirits of ancestors. It is a time for families to reunite, clean ancestral graves, and hold ceremonies to guide the spirits of the departed back to the world of the living. The festival typically takes place in mid-August (though dates vary regionally) and lasts about three days, a duration that symbolizes the journey of the spirits from the afterlife to the world of the living and back. CELEBRATION AND SIGNIFICANCE The primary purpose of Obon is to honor deceased ancestors and ensure their spirits find peace. Families believe that during Obon, the spirits of their ancestors return to visit their homes. To welcome the spirits of the departed, families clean and decorate graves, prepare food offerings, and participate in various ceremonies and rituals. USE OF LANTERNS Lanterns play a significant role in Obon celebrations. They are used in various ways: Mukaebi (Welcoming Fires)—Lanterns and small bonfires guide the spirits back to their homes. Toro Nagashi (Floating Lanterns)—At the end of the festival, lanterns are set afloat on rivers, lakes, or the sea to help guide the spirits back to the afterlife. Chochin Lanterns—Decorative paper lanterns are often hung outside homes and temples to welcome the spirits. Lanterns, the guiding light for the spirits, play a crucial role in Obon. They ensure the spirits find their way both to and from the world of the living, a solemn and awe-inspiring task. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Obon has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years, with its origins tracing back to Buddhist and Confucian practices. The festival evolved from the Buddhist Ullambana Sutra, which tells the story of a monk, Maudgalyayana, who used offerings to save his deceased mother from suffering in the afterlife. This story emphasized filial piety and the importance of offerings to deceased ancestors, forming the basis of Obon traditions. Maudgalyayana's actions are seen as a model for the festival's participants, reinforcing the importance of honoring one's ancestors. RELIGIOUS ASPECTS Obon is primarily a Buddhist event but incorporates elements of Shinto and Confucian practices. The festival's rituals and ceremonies are deeply rooted in Buddhist teachings about the afterlife, karma, and the importance of filial piety. Over the centuries, Obon has also incorporated local customs and traditions, such as regional variations in food offerings and the use of different types of lanterns, making it a unique blend of religious and cultural practices that reflects Japan's rich cultural diversity. Overall, Obon is a significant festival in Japan. It reflects the country's rich spiritual traditions and strongly emphasizes the warmth of family and the reverence for our ancestors, fostering a sense of unity and respect.