Lesson 96 The dead return亡灵返乡【Text 】A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan
This festival is a cheerful occasion, for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living
As they are expected to be hungry after their long Journey, food is laid out for them
Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way
All night long, people dance and sing
In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it
In towns that are near the sea, the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before are placed into the water when the festival is over
Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to s