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When the Moon is Bright…

The Night of the Harvest Moon

Tsukimi, or Autumn Moon-Viewing, is something rather special and a bit wondrous about Japan. The custom of making offerings to the moon of pampas grass (resembles heads of rice) and rice cake balls (resembles the full moon) and enjoying viewing the moon while drinking Japanese Sake was adopted from Chinese traditions. The Heian era aristocrats used to enjoy watching the moons reflection in the river or in their cup of Sake while listening to poetry or music on their boats. In Edo times people adopted some of the aristocratic practices, but changed to actually viewing the moon directly and allowing children or neighbors to come in and ‘steal’ the rice cake offerings. About this time it also became associated with harvest festivals.

The Fifteenth Night?

According the ancient Chinese calendar the Harvest Moon fell on the fifteenth of the eighth month and everything was determined by the moon’s cycle. But when Japan changed over to the Gregorian calendar the months got set back about an extra month and the date of the full moons became variable. So what had been the actual fifteenth night is now a different night each year, and it is sometimes in October (like in 2020).

Wait there is more autumnal moon viewing! Just not fully full moons!

The Thirteenth Night

The Thirteenth Night is the thirteenth night of the 9th month. The offerings for this moon are either soybeans or chestnuts (sometimes called ‘maron’). In 2020 it occurs on October 29th. A drink of Sake is also custom while viewing this moon.

The Tenth Night

The Tenth Night is the tenth night of the 10th month of the ancient Chinese calendar. It occurs on November 24th in 2020. In eastern Japan this coincides with the end of the harvest season. Though there doesn’t seem to be any specific offering to the moon for this one, a cup or two of hot Sake while viewing this moon is absolutely in line with tradition.

References

In English

https://matcha-jp.com/en/2695

https://piece-of-japan.com/culture/annual-event/full-moon-night-jugoya.html

https://ohmatsuri.com/en/articles/aomori-jugoya-taisai

In Japanese

https://shikinobi.com/juugoya

http://www.i-nekko.jp/nenchugyoji/otsukimi/

https://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/220680/

Photo thanks to AllAbout.co.jp.

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