Westerners seem to have a negative image against the full moon as there is a legend that the full moon makes people’s minds go wrong.
In Japan there is a custom to admire the moon.
It is said that there was from an old Jomon period (between 131 century B.C. and BC 4th century B.C.), why is the moon so special?
It was thought that, around the time there was no electricity once, the area was dark after sunset. The moonlight of the night, especially the brightness of the full moon, would have been as gorgeous as we cannot imagine in modern times.
Especially in the “Chushu-no-meigetsu” we have a habit of looking at the moon and celebrate it to give thanks to god for the rice harvest.
In 2018, It is September 24.
“Chushu-no-meigetsu” means “Mid-Autumn moon”. In English, it is called “Harvest moon”.
“Meigetsu” means “full moon” with a full moon in the middle of autumn, hammer, but “Mid-autumn moon” is not necessarily the full moon day. For this year, the full moon is September 25 of the next day.
The Moon Festivals are scheduled to take place in various places.
The event of Daikaku-ji is famous, but unfortunately, due to the influence of the other day’s typhoon, it is canceled this year.
The Moon Festivals will be held in the following places.
· Shinsen:September 22 (Sat) 18: 00~
· Yasaka Shrine:September 24 (Monday) 19: 00~
· Kamigamo Shrine:September 24 (Monday) 18: 00~
· Shimogamo Shrine:September 24 (Monday) 17: 30~
· Matsuo Taisha:September 24 (Monday) 17: 00~
Please enjoy special autumn when you are traveling in Kyoto.
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