The Japanese festival of the dead as a backdrop to the story.
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Urabon in Nagasaki
Urabon in Nagasaki
The Festival
During Urabon, people hung lanterns at eaves. Children sang songs about lanterns. The priest heard them from prison. It reminded him of All Souls' Day in Lisbon.
The Contrast
The festival was a time of comforting spirits. But for the Christians, it was a reminder of the dead. The plaintive song 'O lantern, bye-bye-bye' echoed the sadness of the times.
Significance
