OKINAWA

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Christ’s birthday is December 25, but did you know when Buddha’s birthday is? In Japan, Buddha’s birthday is celebrated April 8. On this day, Buddhist temples placed the statue of baby Buddha in a small chapel beautifully decorated with flowers outside of the temple. The custom is to pour sweet tea over the statue with a ladle to honor the legend which says Buddha was born in Nepal surrounded by perfumed blossoms that had rained down from heaven, and two streams of sparkling water poured from the sky to bathe him.

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