We (Japanese) had a special event last night.
It is traditional event to admire the moon.
The moon is very important for Japanese.
We think the moon is holy and mysterious, and BEAUTIFUL!
We have some stories about the moon in Japan.
Tradition says that there are some rabbits in the moon.
They make "Mochi". Mochi is Japanese food.
Tradition says that There is a princess in the moon.
She was born in the bamboo in the earth.
Old man and woman brought up her in the earth.
When she grew up, the messengers came to the erath from the moon.
They wanted to take her to the moon.
Her foster parents and many soldiers fought with the messengers.
But they took her to the moon.
Princess and her foster mother.I made "Dango" last night. Do you know it?
It is Japanese sweets, yummy!
We offered special Dango as sacrifice to the moon last night.
It is Japanese sweets, yummy!
We offered special Dango as sacrifice to the moon last night.
Do you wanna try it?
7 comments:
I am glad you had a good special night! I want to try some Mochi & Dango. And I want to meet the princess! haha
Someday, I will make Dango for you, Matthew! I hope you like that:)
I have heard the story of the princess from the moon. It is a very nice story. :) Big Bird (from Sesame Street - do you know that show?) has a movie called Big Bird in Japan and they meet the princess from the moon. It is funny.
I have a question: why do you offer sacrifices to the moon? Do you believe that the moon is alive? Are the sacrifices to make the moon happy, or something else?
Jen, I do not believe that moon is alive. I know it is only like a stone. I think it is difficult to me to explain for foreign people this ceremony. But I will try it.
This ceremony is traditional custom in Japan. I do not believe that, but I do this ceremony. A long time ago, Japanese thought the moon is like a God. We still have this mind a little.
We feel the season to do many things. Japanese love the four seasons.
For example...
Do you know geisya or Maiko? They dance Japanese dance in Kimono. They decorate their hair to use ornamental hairpin. And they change it to feel season every month. It is fake flowers and some plants, animals.
Our traditional cloth Kimono is also chacged its pattern to feel season. We love plant. When we want to dye something, we use plant.
I think our soul is close to nature more than foreign people's soul. Do you understand? Maybe my English is not good. I am sorry. If you wanted to more, you would send me email. I will explain more.
JEN, as soon as I read Maki's post I thought of you, Japan and Big Bird. And then laughed because of the whole Big Bird thinking everyone was from Ohio.
MAKI, i think you did good explaining. And I agree. Japanese as a nation have a greater love, apperciation, and respect for nature and its beauty. It plays a greater role in you culture, examples being art, dance, fashion, traditional music and poetry. Even tea ceremony and decorations honour nature.
Maki, thank you for explaining. Your English is great!
I think it is interesting that the Japanese appreciate nature so much. You are right, we in North America do not have a very high respect for nature most of the time.
Have you heard of Thanksgiving? That is the celebration we had this past weekend in Canada. Families come together from far away to see each other, and we think about all that we have and how thankful we are to have it - we give thanks (that is where the name comes from) to God for what He has blessed us with. It is a happy celebration, and one that has not become too commercial; we typically do not give gifts on this holiday, unlike the other ones that are all about the presents.
I like different holidays, thank you for sharing about yours!
Jen, Thanks for your explaining about Thanksgiving Day.
My Canadian friends invited me on that day:) And we had good time.
We don't have Thanksgiving Day in Japan, but I joined that event. I like to introduce a lot of Japanese cultures for you and some foreign friends:) I also like to know new cultures:D
I hope we share a lot of cultures each other! It is fun:)
OK, next is my turn! I will introduce Japanese crazy festival to you! Check it out!:)
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