Can't resist to publish the following story. It's a tradition I've just discovered by investigating the origin of a Buddist statue in Japan: Jizzo. It's as beautiful as it is bittersweet:

According to tradition, children who die prematurely are sent to the underworld as punishment for causing great sorrow to their parents (their death caused grief to their folks). They are sent to Sai no Kawara, the dry bed of the river of souls in purgatory, where they pray for Buddha's compassion by building small stone towers, piling stone upon stone. But an underworld demon soon arrives and scatters their stones and beats them with an iron club.

But, no need to worry, for Jizo comes to the rescue to help the children. Because of this traditional story, children who die prematurely in Japan are called "mizuko children," or water children, and the saddened parents pray to "Mizuko Jizo."

Even today, you will invariably find little heaps of stones around Jizo statues, as many believe that a stone offered in faith will shorten the time their child suffers in the underworld.

Jizo statues are often wearing tiny garments. Since Jizo is the guardian of dead children, sorrowing mothers bring the little garments of their lost ones and dress the Jizo statue in hopes the kindly god will specially protect their child.

i've always loved this line from the Bible, and I think it applies:

"And the light shines in the darkness,
but the darkness has not overcome it"
John 1:5