While some people in Edo (present-day Tokyo) shifted their Tsukimi activities to the 15th day of the month, others continued to observe the festival on the 13th day. In 1684, however, the calendar was altered so that the new moon fell on the first day of each month, moving the full moon two days later, to the 15th day of the month. Due to the ubiquity of sweet potato or taro among these dishes, the tradition is known as Imomeigetsu ( 芋名月) or "Potato harvest moon."įrom 862 until 1683, the Japanese calendar was arranged so that the full moon fell on the 13th day of each month. These dishes are known collectively as Tsukimi dishes ( 月見料理, tsukimi ryōri ). On the evening of the full moon, it is traditional to gather in a place where the Moon can be seen clearly, decorate the scene with Japanese pampas grass, and to serve white rice dumplings (known as Tsukimi dango), taro, edamame, chestnuts and other seasonal foods, plus sake as offerings to the Moon in order to pray for an abundant harvest. The custom is thought to have originated with Japanese aristocrats during the Heian period influenced by the Chinese custom of Mid-Autumn Festival, they would gather to recite poetry under the full moon of the eighth month of the solar calendar, known as the "Mid-Autumn Moon" ( 中秋の名月, chūshū no meigetsu). Tsukimi refers to the Japanese tradition of holding parties to view the harvest moon. The alternate names of the celebrations, Imomeigetsu (meaning "potato harvest moon") and Mamemeigetsu (meaning "bean harvest moon") or Kurimeigetsu (meaning "chestnut harvest moon") are derived from these offerings. Sweet potatoes are offered to the full moon, while beans or chestnuts are offered to the waxing moon the following month. Seasonal produce are also displayed as offerings to the Moon. Tsukimi traditions include displaying decorations made from Japanese pampas grass ( susuki) and eating rice dumplings called Tsukimi dango in order to celebrate the beauty of the Moon. The tradition dates to the Heian era, and is now so popular in Japan that some people repeat the activities for several evenings following the appearance of the full moon during the eighth lunisolar month. These days normally fall in September and October of the modern solar calendar. The celebration of the full moon typically takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese calendar, known as Jūgoya ( 十五夜, fifteenth night ) the waxing moon is celebrated on the 13th day of the ninth month, known as Jūsan'ya ( 十三夜, thirteenth night ). Tsukimi ( 月見) or Otsukimi ( お月見), meaning, " moon-viewing", are Japanese festivals honoring the autumn moon, a variant of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Uposatha of Ashvini/ Krittika (similar festivals that generally occur on the same day in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand ) Offerings for the September 13 Moon: Tsukimi dango (left), susuki grass (middle) and chestnuts (right)īurn incense at temples and consume dango
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