Meaning of Otsukimi | Babel Free

Definitions

A moon-viewing festival in the fall (autumn).

Examples

“I was always interested to see⟳ which of the Japanese customs belonged to the Palace and which to the world outside the Palace. O Bon, or the Festival of the Dead in midsummer, was a festival of the people, as also was Otsukimi, or Moon-Viewing. I have⟳ delightful memories of a party in the country near Tokyo to which we went when the September moon was full.”

“The fact that Japanese people have⟳ gazed at and felt affection for the Moon since ancient times is also apparent from folklore, such as the story of the Moon Rabbit. And although Otsukimi (moon-viewing) festivals seem to have⟳ originated in China, the custom of appreciating the Moon is said to have⟳ existed in Japan since the Jōmon period (approximately 14,000 BC to 400 BC).”

“When the harvest⟳ moon arrives, people gather for the Otsukimi festival to celebrate⟳ with foods that remind⟳ us of the moon, like⟳ chestnuts, sunny-side up eggs, and dumplings.”

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