The 15th of the 24 Solar Terms: Hakuro (White Dew)
Cool breezes blow morning and evening, and the pleasant chirping of insects can be heard.
The heat subsides, and grains begin to ripen.
"Hakuro" means a time when dew falls and appears to shine white.
Night temperatures drop sharply, cooling the water vapor in the air, which then condenses into water droplets that form on leaves and plants. This is dew (morning dew).
While the lingering summer heat persists during the day, mornings and evenings become cooler, marking the time when morning dew begins to fall.
The seasons gradually change, and opportunities to discover "small autumns" become more frequent.
Now, let's introduce the events and culture observed during the Hakuro (White Dew) period.
1. Choyo no Sekku (Chrysanthemum Festival)・・・September 9th
A day to pray for health through the medicinal properties of chrysanthemums.
It is one of the five seasonal festivals, along with the Peach Festival in March and the Boys' Festival in May.
Choyo no Sekku, also known as the "Chrysanthemum Festival," is a day to admire the beautiful chrysanthemums that bloom in autumn and to pray for protection from evil spirits and for good health.
The custom is to drink "chrysanthemum sake" and eat "chestnut rice."
Chrysanthemum sake is Japanese sake infused with the fragrance of chrysanthemums. People drink chrysanthemum sake and eat rice with chestnuts, which are in season in autumn, to pray for good health.
Additionally, Hina dolls are among the decorations for Choyo no Sekku.
Some people might be surprised and ask, "Hina dolls, even though it's not the Peach Festival?" This custom is called "Nochi no Hina" (Later Hina), and it is a tradition passed down from the Edo period, where the dolls are displayed again with a wish for longevity.
Given the expense of Hina dolls, there is also a practical reason: displaying the dolls that were put away in March, approximately six months later in September (around the time of Choyo no Sekku), allows them to be aired out and prevents damage. Hina dolls are typically displayed for about a month from Choyo no Sekku.
In recent years, with the rise of the phrase "100-year life," and with "healthy longevity" as a key concept, "Nochi no Hina" has gained attention. This involves acquiring Hina dolls for oneself, wishing for a long and healthy life in conjunction with the Choyo no Sekku festival.
2. Chushu no Meigetsu (Mid-Autumn Moon) - Jugoya (Fifteenth Night)
During the Hakuro period, we have the Chushu no Meigetsu, also known as Jugoya.
Jugoya is referred to by various names such as Otsukimi (moon viewing), Meigetsu (harvest moon), and Chushu no Meigetsu. Since ancient times, it has been considered the best season for moon viewing. It is said that people enjoyed gazing at the moon, holding banquets under the moonlight, composing poetry, decorating with pampas grass, and offering moon-viewing dumplings, taro, edamame, and chestnuts along with sacred sake.
In the past, people used the waxing and waning of the moon to roughly determine the date and conduct agricultural work.Therefore, the full moon night of Jugoya was also an important milestone for festivals.
The custom of appreciating the Mid-Autumn Moon is said to have originated in China during the Tang Dynasty, and was introduced to Japan by aristocrats during the Heian period, gradually spreading to samurai and townspeople.
At that time, it was believed to be the period when the moon was most beautiful throughout the year, so Heian aristocrats enjoyed holding "Kangetsu no En" (moon-viewing banquets) to compose waka poems while gazing at the Mid-Autumn Moon.
Among farmers, it was associated with agricultural practices and held significance as a harvest festival. The Mid-Autumn Moon is also known as "Imo Meigetsu" (Potato Moon), stemming from its origin as a ritual for harvesting root vegetables like taro. It has been passed down as one of the annual events for a long time.
As the saying goes, "Autumn of abundance," the period after the Mid-Autumn Moon marks the harvest season for many ingredients.Let's enjoy moon viewing while giving thanks for the bounty of the earth and the richness of nature.
The Autumnal Equinox (Shūbun no Hi) is a national holiday "to honor ancestors and remember the deceased."
Originally, Higan (equinoctial week) was an important court event, with the Vernal Equinox Day celebrated as "Shunki Kōreisai" (Spring Imperial Ancestor Festival) and the Autumnal Equinox Day as "Shūki Kōreisai" (Autumn Imperial Ancestor Festival). Therefore, even after legal revisions changed their names to "Vernal Equinox Day" and "Autumnal Equinox Day," the customs of Higan were maintained and designated as national holidays.
During the period of 【 Hakuro 】, the seventy-two micro-seasons are described as follows:
First候 The 43rd Micro-season: "Kusa no Tsuyu Shiroshi (Grass Dew Turns White)"
A time when morning dew on plants and flowers appears white and cool. This marks the transition from summer to autumn.It has become a time when morning dew on wild grasses shines white.It is often seen on days when morning and evening temperatures drop,and is also an autumn kigo (seasonal word).
Next候 The 44th Micro-season: ＜Sekirei Naku (Wagtails Sing)＞
A time when the chirping sound of wagtails, announcing autumn, resonates.
Last候 The 45th Micro-season: ＜Tsubame Saru (Swallows Depart)＞
A time when the swallows, which arrived in Japan in early spring, return to warmer southern regions. They will be back next year, so it's a temporary farewell.
