This year, the full moon will be reached around 8:55 am on Tuesday, 21st today, and the dates of the harvest moon and the full moon will match.  It is the first time in eight years that the dates of the harvest moon and the full moon match.  It is said that the moon viewing during the harvest moon was from China during the Heian period, and it was initially a custom only for aristocrats, but it became popular among the common people during the Edo period.  On the day of the full moon, Imoni was cooked with taro and served with autumn flowers such as Japanese pampas grass.  It is the origin of the harvest moon, which was also called “Imonazuki”.  It wasn’t until after that dango（ a kind of dumpling, usually made of rice or wheat flour) was offered and now there are various shapes such as circles and bales depending on the region.  In haiku, August 14th and 15th of the lunar calendar are called “Matsuyoi(waiting night)”, and 16th and 17th are called “Izayoi(16th night)”, and the months before and after the famous moon are loved.

今年は、今日21日(火)の午前8時55分ごろに満月になり、中秋の名月と満月の日付が一致します。中秋の名月と満月の日付が一致するのは8年ぶりです。中秋の名月にお月見をするのは平安時代に中国から渡ってきたとされ、当初は貴族のみの風習でしたが、江戸時代に庶民に広まりました。十五夜の日には里芋で芋煮を作り、ススキなど秋の草花を添えてお供えしました。中秋の名月を「芋名月」とも呼んだ由来です。団子を供える様になったのはその後のことで、今では地方によって、丸や俵型などさまざまな形が存在します。俳諧では旧暦の８月14日・15日を「待宵」、16日・17日を「十六夜」と称して名月の前後の月を愛でます。