tsukimi

: Tsukimi: Japan’s Moon-Viewing Festival of Gratitude and Beauty

autumn traditions, dango, full moon, harvest festival, Japanese culture, japanese customs, japanese festivals, Jugoya, moon viewing, seasonal events, tsukimi

Every autumn, Japan celebrates Tsukimi (月見) — the moon-viewing festival — to appreciate the beauty of the full moon and to give thanks for the year’s harvest. The tradition dates back to the Heian period (794–1185), when aristocrats would board boats to admire the moon reflected on the surface of the water or in their cups of sake.What they cherished was not the moon itself, but its reflection — a symbol of elegance and refined sensibility in Japanese culture. They composed and recited poems under the pale glow of the moon, expressing gratitude and the fleeting beauty of the season. ...