It is now September, and according to the calendar, we have entered the “White Dew” season. (In the year 2024, the “White Dew” is from September 7 (Sat) to September 21 (Sat), the day before the autumnal equinox, but you may not really feel it.
The term “white dew” refers to the time of year when dew forms on the tips of plants and flowers in the early morning, making them appear white and glistening, although it is still hot in Nagoya.

By the way, did you know that on September 9 (Mon.), in the middle of the “Shiro dew” season, there is a seasonal festival called “Chou-you-no-Sekku”, one of the five seasonal festivals? It is not that I have lost it, but I have been living for decades without knowing such a thing.

First of all, what are the five seasonal festivals? You may be wondering, “What are the five seasonal festivals?
The five seasonal festivals are January 7 (Jin-nichi), March 3 (Joushiki), May 5 (Tango), July 7 (Tanabata), and September 9 (Chou-you), and they seem to be traditional Japanese events to celebrate the five seasonal milestones.

Among them, March 3 is called “Momo no Sekku” and May 5 is called “Tango-no Sekku,” and they are celebrated as “Hina Matsuri” and “Children’s Day,” respectively, so these two festivals go without saying, but what does “Chou-you no Sekku” celebrate?

Originally, Chou-you-sekku originated in China, where September 9 is the day on which the largest number “9” among yang numbers (an odd number), which is considered auspicious in China, falls on top of each other, and thus was considered a day of great luck. On this day in China, people climbed a small mountain and drank chrysanthemum wine soaked in chrysanthemum flowers to pray for good health and long life. It is believed that chrysanthemum flowers have the effect of prolonging one’s life, and it is also called “Kiku-no-Sekku” (festival of chrysanthemums).

This custom was introduced to Japan around the Nara period (710-794), and became a court event in the Heian period (794-1185) as “Chou-you-no-Sekku,” and spread to the common people in the Edo period (1603-1868). It seems that it was celebrated until the Edo period, but nowadays it is not seen or heard of very often.

Come to think of it, there is a scene in the current Taiga Drama “Hikaru Kimi he” in which “Chou-you-no-Sekku” was recited some time ago.

In the scene, young Michinaga and Mahiro meet again at a Chinese poetry meeting hosted by his elder brother Michitaka. Michinaga was originally not good at Chinese poetry and seemed reluctant to attend the meeting hosted by his brother, but when he did attend, he found Mahiro there.

The theme of the meeting was “sake. At such a meeting, the participants were asked to present something appropriate, including the words of the theme, which could have been a poem written by a great person of the ancient times. Since Michinaga was not good at Chinese poetry, he performed a Chinese poem composed by Bai Juyi (Hakurakuten) on the occasion of “Chou-you-no-Sekku.

Gifted wine waxing and waning in the cup who holds it together
The palace is full of flowers
Standing by the flowers
The poem “Chrysanthemum Poem” was composed by Chinnichi Ginkun.

A simple translation is,

My cup is filled with the chrysanthemum wine given to me on Chou-you Festival, but with whom should I drink it? The court is full of flowers, but I am thinking of you alone. I am alone with you, beside the chrysanthemums, and all day long I hum the chrysanthemum poems that you have composed.

This poem seems to be a response to a poem about chrysanthemums composed by Shirakuten’s close friend and excellent poet, Genbaku, which was so wonderful.

It seems to be a bit like an adult’s seasonal festival, or perhaps a celebration to wish for good health and longevity. Although it does not seem to be an eventful Sekku like the current Momo-no-Sekku and Tango-no-Sekku, it is actually a “day of good luck” and a “day to wish for good health” Sekku, so it is good to think about September 9 with this in mind.

Regardless of whether I drink sake with chrysanthemums floating on it and recite Chinese poetry or not, tomorrow I will be drinking sake (ordinary sake) while praying for good health and longevity with the elegance of a former court ceremony, lol.

Have a good day.