Why do we sing "Bring out the candle" to get candy?

The reason why children sing "Bring out the candles" has its roots in Hakodate. According to records remaining in Hakodate, this festival began in the late Edo period. At that time, there was a festival in Hakodate where Nebuta-like floats and lanterns filled the town, and it is said that candles were used to light the floats.

Children collected candles from each house to light the shrine, so they sang "Give me your candles." However, due to the influence of the Meiji government's policies at the time, festivals like Nebuta gradually disappeared in Hakodate, and there was no longer a need to collect candles. The tradition of "borrowing candles" that continues in Hakodate naturally changed the things that children received from candles to sweets later, and it is still carried on today.

Conclusion

What did you think? You probably won't have many opportunities to see candle-boring in action, but it might be a good idea to take a moment to remember this custom during the Obon period, as it is very Hokkaido-like.

Check it out too!