24 solar terms No. 18 [Frost]
It's late autumn.
As autumn deepens, morning frosts can be seen. Mornings and evenings become colder and the days become shorter. The first frost also occurs around this time, and the mountains gradually begin to take on the color of autumn leaves.
It's about time to start buying new winter clothes and preparing heating equipment, and we begin to feel the change of seasons in our lives.
Now, we will introduce some of the events and festivals that take place during the frosty season.
1. Tori no Ichi (Rooster Day in November)
◆Origin and history of Tori no Ichi ◆Why are rakes considered lucky charms?
How to choose, buy, and display a rake
2. Culture Day (November 3rd)
◆What do you do on Culture Day?
3. Halloween (October 31st)
Mexico's "Day of the Dead"
Italy's "Day of the Dead"
◆Halloween in Japan
◆Why do we dress up for Halloween?
◆What is “Trick or Treat!?”
◆ Jack-o'-Lantern
With each rain, the temperature drops and winter approaches, but as long as it's sunny, the weather is comfortable. This is also the time of year when many events are held all over the country, including autumn festivals. Next month, the end-of-year event "Tori no Ichi" will begin, and according to the calendar, "Ritto" will be the start of winter. As this is a turning point in the season, be sure to take care of your health and enjoy this autumn to the fullest.
1. Tori no Ichi (Cocktail Festival)
Tori no Ichi is an annual festival and event held on "Tori no Ichi" (the day of the rooster) every November at shrines and temples associated with the rooster, such as Otori Shrine ( Washidai) .
The lively crowds selling "lucky rakes" at the many outdoor stalls, clapping their hands vigorously, are a well-known end-of-year tradition, and many people have probably seen it on television.
The origin and history of Tori-no-ichi
It is said to have originated from the autumn harvest festival at Ootori Shrine, and the Tori no Machi Festival at Ootori Shrine, which enshrines Yamato Takeru no Mikoto as its deity.
Owashi Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Amenohiwashi no Mikoto, also known as Emperor Yamato Takeru.The shrine's deity, Emperor Yamato Takeru, celebrated his victory in conquering the Eastern Barbarians in a festival in which he hung a rake on a pine tree.As this festival fell on the day of the Rooster in November, the day of the Rooster became the shrine's festival day, and the shrine is bustling on this day as Tori no Ichi, a festival that is still held today.
Although it is now widely known as "Tori no Ichi," it was actually a divine festival day called "Tori no Machi (Festival of the Bird)." "Tori no Hi" is a date that corresponds to the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and it comes around every 12 days. Tori no Ichi was originally held as Tori no Machi (Festival of the Bird), and it is said that the word "machi" changed to "ichi" because a market was opened during the festival.
The reason why there are years that only have the second Rooster day and years that have the third Rooster day is because there are years in which the Rooster day occurs twice and years that have three Rooster days in the calendar. It is said that there are many fires in years that have the third Rooster day, and so the custom of taking precautions against fire remains.
◆Why are rakes considered lucky charms?
The origin of this tradition is that Emperor Yamato Takeru celebrated his victory in conquering the Eastern Barbarians and held a festival of thanks by rakes on pine trees. However, it also coincides with the autumn harvest festival, and as a farm tool used to rake up harvests, it came to mean "rake up luck and fortune" from its function of "rake up." People give thanks for safety in the past year and pray for happiness in the coming year.
In the past, the rakes were popular among self-employed people and business owners who wished for business success as lucky charms, but recently, rakes with wishes for love success and family safety, as well as business success, have been sold, and the event has become a new and lively event for the general public.
How to choose, buy, and display a rake
The lucky rakes used at Tori no Ichi festival are decorated with many auspicious items.
There are various combinations and sizes of Otafuku, cranes, turtles, large bags, mallets, sea bream, rice sacks, Daikoku, large and small gold coins, treasure ships, scrolls, pine, bamboo, plum, lucky bamboo, etc., so choose one based on the motif and description that suits your purpose. If you are buying for the first time, it is said that it is best to start with a small size and buy one one size larger than the last time at the same store every year .
One of the distinctive features of Tori no Ichi is that there are no price tags.
When you find a rake you want to buy, the first thing to do is ask the price.
When paying, it is considered a smart way to shop to pay the amount you initially asked and leave the discounted amount as a gift at the shop.
Why not give it a try as a way to enjoy Tori-no-ichi? If you buy a rake, the shop staff will perform a spirited sanbon-jime (three-clap) for you.
When you take it home, walk with the front facing forward and holding it high.
Places to decorate, such as homes and shops,
・Higher than eye level ・High places such as entrances and altars
If you are placing it at the entrance, place it facing the entrance to bring in good luck.
Tori no Ichi is a festival that is mainly held in the Kanto region, but recently there are shrines where it is held in Nagoya and Osaka as well. The atmosphere of the festival differs depending on the region, so you can experience the best of each area, so if you're in the area, be sure to check it out.
2. Culture Day
It is a national holiday celebrated every year on November 3rd.
Culture Day was established in 1948 as a national holiday, originating from the promulgation of the Japanese Constitution on November 3, 1946, in accordance with the Constitution's aims of "loving freedom and peace and promoting culture." Originally, November 3 was a national holiday, marking the birthday of Emperor Meiji and the Meiji Day. After the end of World War II, GHQ (General Headquarters of the Allied Powers) considered abolishing the Meiji Day, but the Japanese government, wanting to "keep this day forever," made November 3 a national holiday to coincide with the promulgation of the new constitution.
◆What to do on Culture Day?◆
On Culture Day, in addition to the awarding ceremony for the Order of Culture and other medals of merit and the art festival sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, various cultural events are held in cities, towns, and villages . Some museums and art galleries offer free admission. Recently, art festivals have also been held where artworks are exhibited outdoors in natural locations.
As the leaves gradually begin to change color, the weather will be pleasant on sunny days and you can enjoy Japan's diverse culture , making it a great time to go out.
3. Halloween
Halloween, a festival held every year on October 31st, is a popular event around the world. In Japan, Halloween is becoming established as a seasonal autumn event where people carve pumpkins into "jack-o'-lanterns" and children dress up as witches and ghosts, and now it has become an event that is as popular as Christmas.
Although Halloween is not a part of Japanese culture, it has become an indispensable part of our lives as an autumn event, so today we will take an in-depth look at Halloween to help you learn more and enjoy it even more.
Later, throughout history, it was absorbed into Christian culture, and the custom of celebrating October 31st remained, eventually evolving into the Halloween we know today.
In Christianity, the day after Halloween (November 1st) is a holiday called "All Saints' Day." "All Saints' Day" is a day to commemorate all the saints in Christianity.
Halloween is spelled "Halloween" in English, but "Hallow" means saint, so the day after Halloween, November 1st, is called "All Saints' Day" ▶All Hallows' Day, and the night before, October 31st, is called ▶All Hallows' Evening (Eve).
It is said that this name was corrupted and shortened to "Halloween."
Halloween has spread to Christian countries, but since it is originally a part of ancient Celtic culture and is not an event that originated from Christianity, it is treated by Christians as simply another event with no religious significance.
Halloween in various parts of the world
Ireland, where the ancient Celts lived, continues to celebrate its traditional customs to this day, but in areas where customs remain strong, it is a popular tourist event with haunted houses and monster balls, and in bustling urban areas, one of the world's largest Halloween carnival parades is held every year.
Another world-famous event that takes place on the same day is Mexico's Day of the Dead.
◆Mexican Day of the Dead◆
This event is similar to the Obon festival in Japan and is known as a very important event, and in 2008 it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage .
The Aztec civilization ( 1428-1521) , which flourished in ancient Mexico, worshipped the sun as a god. Marigolds, which resemble the sun, have been treasured for their mysterious power as medicines and talismans. On the Day of the Dead, they are believed to play a role as a "signpost connecting this world with the afterlife, allowing the souls of the deceased to return home without getting lost."
Ofrendas are not only set up in the entrances and yards of homes, but also in storefronts, plazas, restaurants, and everywhere else, so you can see photos of them in a variety of places during the Day of the Dead.
Displaying photographs in an ofrenda has an important meaning for Mexicans, and if after someone's death their photograph is not displayed, is not talked about, and disappears from people's memories, it is considered a "second death."
In Mexico, there is a concept of "death as an extension of life." (The view of life and death of accepting death and enjoying life to the fullest can be said to be characteristic of Latin people.) As the message of the movie "Coco" (which became famous overnight as "Day of the Dead") says, "It's not death that's scary, it's being forgotten," and "What's important is remembering the deceased," it is something that should be passed down to prevent a "second death."
On that day, the Mexican way is for the relatives of the deceased to enjoy a meal in front of the grave, play musical instruments, dance, and enjoy interacting with the deceased. In Mexico, funerals are held in a cheerful atmosphere, as the Mexican view of life and death does not equate "death with eternal separation."
There are many special foods for the Day of the Dead, such as a large sweet bread called "Pan de Muerto" (= Bread of the Dead) and colorful sugar candies in the shape of skeletons (sugar skulls) that are lined up in stores and at food stalls. Because of the cheerful nature of Mexico, even though they are called skeletons, they are not scary at all, but colorful and happy.
Many people are fascinated by the typically Mexican colors and patterns, and the Day of the Dead culture can be said to be an event filled with the cheerful charm that is so typical of Mexico.
Italy's "Day of the Dead"
Around the same time in Italy, the day is celebrated as "Day of the Dead", a day to remember the deceased.
November 1st is All Saints' Day and November 2nd is All Souls' Day, and on these days many people go to church and visit graves, a custom similar to the Japanese equinox.
There are also many local dishes that are unique to this time of year, and sweets in particular are often offered as offerings.
Common sweets include biscuits called "Ossa dei Morti," which literally translates to "bones of the dead." In southern Italy, fruit-shaped marzipan sweets called "Frutta Martorana" are standard long-lasting offerings.
◆Halloween in Japan◆
Halloween is now becoming as popular as Christmas in Japan.
In the 1970s, the toy and general goods store "Kiddyland Harajuku" focused on selling Halloween goods as a seasonal event, and in 1983, it held a Halloween parade for the purpose of promoting sales. This is said to be the first Halloween parade held in Japan.
At the time, Halloween was not well known in Japan, but in 1997, Tokyo Disneyland® incorporated a Halloween costume parade into its attractions, which caused awareness to rise rapidly, and Halloween became established nationwide as an event that both children and adults could enjoy. From around the late 2000s, "Shibuya Halloween", where people dress up in costumes and gather around Shibuya Station in Tokyo and parade through Shibuya Scramble Crossing, became popular, and in the 2010s it became a huge Halloween event that was also popular with foreign tourists.
However, as the festivities have heated up, problems such as vandalism by crowds and littering have become a problem, and in recent years drinking alcohol on the streets at night around Shibuya Station has been banned, and people are being urged to refrain from coming to Shibuya for Halloween.
Another way to enjoy Halloween, which has become popular in Japan in recent years, is to decorate your home in a horror style, hold a home party, or dress up in costumes, a style of enjoyment that was introduced from America.
◆Why do we dress up for Halloween?◆
In recent years, during the event, it has become common to enjoy cosplaying as not only adults but also children and pets in various costumes, taking photos to commemorate the occasion, and posting the photos on social media.
Dressing up for Halloween is a tradition that dates back to the time when it was a religious festival.
We've mentioned that the ancient Celtic religious festival "Samhain" was believed to open the door to the afterlife on October 31st, and that the spirits of ancestors were believed to return to this world to visit their families. However, it was also believed that not only the spirits of ancestors, but also demons, witches, and wandering spirits would arrive on that day. Evil spirits and monsters were believed to bring disaster, such as destroying crops and causing trouble to human children. Therefore, people protected themselves by dressing up as them and making others think they were their friends. This was the beginning of costumes, and costumes and makeup as witches and evil spirits have become a standard style even today.
In recent years, in addition to classic characters such as witches and monsters, many people dress up as characters from anime and games, or famous celebrities, and new ideas are born every year, making Halloween even more exciting.
◆"Trick or Treat!"-Trick or Treat!-◆
Translated into Japanese, it means "If you don't give me candy, I'll play a trick on you!" and is like a Halloween password.
In other countries, a common way for children to enjoy Halloween is to knock on their neighbors' doors and say "Trick or treat!" in unison to receive candy and sweets.
It is said that the origin of this custom is an old Celtic custom of preparing a "soul cake" to pray for the dead to go to heaven. Without this soul cake, the soul of the dead would wander the earth, so it is said that "Trick or Treat!" arose from the saying "If you don't give me a cake, you can't go to heaven!"
It's not very common in Japan, but if you have the opportunity to cosplay for Halloween, why not try enjoying American style at home with your friends and family?
◆"Jack-o'-lanterns" made by carving pumpkins◆
Jack o'lanterns were originally displayed as a talisman to ward off evil spirits.
The ancient Celts believed that decorating their homes with jack-o-lanterns would keep evil spirits away. They also acted as guides for the spirits of their ancestors to return home without getting lost. In a way, it plays a role similar to the Bon Festival lanterns in Japan.
"Jack o'lantern" translates to "Jack's light" in Japanese. Jack comes from the story of "Stingy Jack" in Irish folk tales.
In the story of Stingy Jack, the evil Jack tricks the Devil into trapping him in his purse, in exchange for letting him go, he promises not to take his soul.
After his death, Jack was not accepted into either heaven or hell and was wandering between the two. The Devil took pity on him and gave him an ember to light his turnip lantern.
When Halloween was first introduced to America, pumpkins were more readily available than turnips, and so the pumpkin "jack-o'-lantern" became the custom.
Halloween is a seasonal turning point, so it is celebrated in many ways around the world, incorporating different cultures. How will you enjoy it this year? With such a deep culture, it's sure to liven up your dinner table.
In the 72 seasonal phases of [Cold Dew], it is expressed as follows:
First signs
The 52nd Season : First Frost
As autumn deepens, frost first begins to fall on plants and the ground in mountain villages.
Next
The 53rd Season: <Kosame tokidoki furu>
The drizzle in this season is not like the autumn rain, but a quick shower that stops. It is called "shigure". It is said that the temperature drops by one degree every time it rains in autumn, and the season deepens.
End
54th Season ＜Maple and Ivy Yellow＞
The time when maple and ivy leaves turn yellow.
As autumn deepens, plants gradually begin to change color in the highlands and northern regions.
As autumn deepens, plants gradually begin to change color in the highlands and northern regions.
The autumn leaves show off a variety of colors, from red to yellow.
The word "momiji" (maple) was originally called "momizu" (momizu), and its etymology comes from the fact that the leaves were dyed by squeezing them out. The rich colors of each leaf are captivating. On a clear autumn day, it's a great idea to go outside and enjoy the beautiful Japanese autumn and refresh yourself.
The next chapter marks the beginning of winter.
We are now entering the winter season.
It's the time of year when the seasons change and people are more likely to fall ill. Autumn is known as the season of appetite, so let's make the most of nature's bounty and prepare for the coming winter.