Seasonal Letter 07. Harvest moon and silver grass

28/11/2025

Two times a year, on August 15th and September 13th in our old lunar calender.
This is when the moon becomes the most beautiful in the sky,
and when we thank for the good harvest to the moon god.

From ancient times, Japanese people have been enjoying the seasonal beauty and following the rythm of nature through a cup of tea. This little series of Toridori's seasonal letter was born to bring — a little spoonful of — seasonal beauty and nature's rythm into our life.

By the way do you remember Tanabata ("Star festival (七夕)") back in July? It was the festival related to the stars, but we also have a festival dedicated for the moon.

Our seventh letter featured the Japanese Moon Festival (月見), which is celebrated in two different days in the old lunar calender: August 15th (called "15th night (十五夜)") and September 13th (called "13th night (十三夜)") . This year, it was on October 6th and November 2nd.

In Japan, the Moon Festival is the day to admire the beuty of the moon in the clear autumn sky, but also the important retual to thank new harvest to the moon god and pray for the good harvest in the next year.

The typical sweets of this festival is the "tsukimi dango (月見団子)", a type of mochi-balls made of rice powder. But these days you can find lots of other Moon-Festival-related food in many different places in Japan. In the end, this is the day to celebrate the harvest, and for doing this, the best way is to enjoy the tastes of the seasonal harvests...right?

The moon is beautiful and the food is tasty.
I wish for the good harvest celebrations for everyone all over the world.

Erina

TORIDORI SEASONAL LETTER 07.

Harvest moon and silver grass

Toridoriの季節便り

中秋の名月とススキの穂

2025 October 14 - November 28

Hi, friends! How are you doing?

To add a spoonful of seasonality in your cup, I am writing a small seasonal letter.

October 6th was the very special day in Japan: the night of "the harvest moon", or "中秋の名月 (chushu-no-meigetsu)".

In Japan, autumn is the time when the air becomes colder and clearer. From ancient times, the full moon of this time of the year has been recognized as the most beautiful of whole seasons.

Originally it was the evening to admire the beauty of the moon. Some hundred years went by, and this special evening has become connected to the ritual to appreciate the good harest to the moon god.

Under the moonlight, some silvergrasses (ススキ susuki in Japanese) and 15 small rice balls ("団子 dango" in Japanese), as well as the autumn harvests, are offered to the moon god. The golden panicles of a silvergrass symbolizes rice paddy, the most important food for Japanese people.

In Belgium, too, autumn is the season of new harvests. Let's celebrate the harvest season with tasty seasonal food and a good cup of warm tea :)