Today is the ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ (Mid-Autumn Full Moon). It is a traditional Japanese event that has continued since the Heian period. ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ refers to the custom of moon-viewing on the night of the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. In the lunar calendar, autumn is from July to September, and the 15th day of the 8th month, which falls in the middle, was called ‘Chūshū’ (Mid-Autumn). The moon that rises on the night of the 15th day of Chūshū is called the ‘Chūshū no Tsuki’ (Mid-Autumn Moon), and because the moon appears particularly beautiful around this time, it became known as the ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ (Mid-Autumn Full Moon).
In the modern solar calendar, there is about a one-month discrepancy, so this year (2023), the day of ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ falls on September 29. Since ‘Chūshū no Meigetsu’ is based on the solar calendar, the date changes every year. For example, in 2022, it was on September 10, in 2023 on September 29, in 2025 on October 6, and in 2026 on September 25, showing that the date can differ by nearly a month depending on the year.
When it comes to offerings for moon-viewing, ‘Tsukimi Dango’ (moon-viewing rice dumplings) and pampas grass are traditionally used. A table is set up in a place where the moon is easily visible, and 15 dumplings, representing the 15th night, are piled high on a large plate, with pampas grass arranged beside them as a stand-in for rice ears.
The pampas grass in the photograph was coincidentally taken today, and its formal name is ‘Shiroganeyoshi’ (silver grass). In English, it is called ‘Pampas Grass,’ and it originates from the grasslands (pampas) of South America, including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Pampas grass was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era, and it is now commonly seen in parks and wetlands across the country.

今日は中秋の名月。平安時代から続く日本の伝統行事です。中秋の名月とは、旧暦8月15日の十五夜に月見をする習わしのことです。旧暦では秋を7月～9月としており、その真ん中にあたる8月15日を中秋と呼んでいました。この中秋にあたる8月15日の夜に昇る月を「中秋の月」と呼び、さらにこの頃の月が特に美しく見えることから、「中秋の名月」と呼ばれるようになったとされています。
新暦ではほぼ１ヶ月のずれがあり、今年は9月の17日が中秋のの名月の日になります。中秋の名月は太陽暦に基づき決まるため、毎年日付が変わります。ちなみに2022年は9月10日、2023年は9月29日、2025年は10月6日、2026年は9月25日と、実は年によって１ヶ月近くの開きがあります。
お月見のお供え物といえば、「月見団子」とススキ。月がよく見える場所に台を置き、十五夜にちなみ15個の団子を大皿にうず高く盛り、側には稲穂に見立てたススキを飾るのが伝統的なお供え物です。
写真の大ススキはたまたま今日撮った写真で、正式名はシロガネヨシです。英名をパンパスグラスと呼び、原産地はブラジル、アルゼンチン、チリなどの南米大陸の草原(パンパス)です。日本には明治時代に入ってきて、今では全国の公園や湖沼で見かけます。