I know that the small “altar” with a Buddha statue and food that is found in many Asian businesses is there to honor their ancestors. If I am not mistaken, the food is not for the statue, but for the souls of their ancestors. They have a similar custom about leaving food for a deceased person about a month after they pass away. They leave candles (red if the person lived a long life and died of old age and white if the deceased was young) and a bowl of fruit in a certain part of the house – usually where 2 hallways intersect (something to do with wind) and they believe that the soul of the deceased and the deceased’s friends and relatives come through the house that night. The food is for the souls. Most oriental people will follow this custom even if they are now xtians. Kind of reminds me of people who call themselves “cultural” Jews. They don’t believe in organized religion but still like the customs of Judaism.
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