09/09/2024
【今日は重陽の節句】
※日本語は英語の後に続きます※
Today is Choyo Festival.
"What is Choyo Festival?"
In Japan, there are five major seasonal festivals.
January 7th is Jinjitsu Festival (Seven Herbs Festival), March 3rd is Jōshi Festival (Peach blossom Festival), May 5th is Tango Festival (Iris Festival), July 7th is Tanabata Festival (Bamboo Festival), and September 9th is Chōyō Festival (Chrysanthemum Festival).
In China, odd numbers are called yang numbers and are considered to be auspicious. Among them, September 9th, which has the largest yang number, "9", is designated as the "Chōyō Festival". It is said that the festival originated from a celebratory banquet held to pray for good health and prosperity of descendants.
It is said that people would view chrysanthemum flowers and drink sake infused with chrysanthemum flowers at the celebration, praying for eternal youth and longevity.
Because chrysanthemums were used, it came to be called the Chōyō Festival.
日本には四季を彩る代表的な節句が五節句あります。
一月七日は人日の節句(七草の節句)、三月三日は上巳の節句(桃の節句)五月五日は端午の節句(菖蒲の節句)、七月七日は七夕の節句(笹竹の節句)、そして九月九日が重陽の節句(菊の節句)です。
中国では、奇数のことを陽数といい、縁起が良いとされてきたのですが、その中でも最も大きな陽数「九」が重なる九月九日を「重陽の節句」とし、無病息災や子孫繁栄を願い、祝いの宴を開いたことが起源とされています。
その祝いの席で菊の花の観賞や菊の花を漬け込んだ酒を飲んで不老長寿を願ったと
され、菊を使ったことから菊の節句と呼ばれるようなりました。