Chirimen Crafting: Spirit Horses with Lotus Leaves These spirit horses, traditionally displayed on the Buddhist altar during the Obon festival, are made from chirimen fabric. Originally made from fresh cucumbers and eggplants, they are crafted from chirimen to prevent spoilage due to recent extreme heat. Saddles are made from brocade fabric. Materials: Body: Polyester chirimen Legs: Bamboo skewers Lotus Leaves: Reversible polyester chirimen Black tray not included. My grandfather taught me that the cucumber horse welcomes the spirits quickly, and the eggplant cow sends them off slowly to the other world. Our family's horses used to have corn silk for tails, so these have long tails as a remnant of that tradition. All items are hand-sewn and made by an amateur as a hobby, so there may be some imperfections. Please refrain from purchasing if you are looking for a perfect, flawless item. ⚠️Chirimen fabric is sensitive to water, so please be careful not to get it wet. ⚠️I do not smoke, and I do not have any pets. ⚠️Items will be shipped in a compact size, so please adjust the legs upon arrival. Size: Eggplant: Approximately 12 cm long Cucumber: Approximately 18 cm long Height: Approximately 10 cm each A comparison with a marker pen is shown in the last photo. #Obon #FirstObon #SpiritHorses #ObonDecorations #FirstObon Thank you for viewing.