Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/18

10 and cake rice (a peculiar kind of rice) boiled together. This food is called medicine food, and is supposed to be prophylactic and also to strengthen the brain. In the country, torches are lighted to welcome the moon, and people assemble in great numbers to catch the first glimpse of the moon, as it insures happiness. This day is also observed as All-Fools' Day. A favorite trick is to attach a flower secretly to some one's clothing.

In the second month, usually on the sixteenth, Butterfly holiday occurs. The third day of the third month is observed as the Flower holiday. On this day young men make cake of flowers mixed with wheat and rice, and this is fried; they also cook fish, and other articles of food.

The eighth day of the fourth month is called by the Buddhists the Washing-day of Buddha. Households have a lantern for each person, and these are supplied with oil lamps instead of candles, as candles are made of ox fat or honeycomb, and Buddha forbids the killing of animals. Oil for lamps is always a vegetable oil. The lower classes attend church on this day and sacrifice to Buddha. A cake is made of black beans, and this was formerly decorated with flowers; now this is rarely done, though artificial flowers are sometimes used for this purpose. At this time forms of animals are made of meal or lime and sold to the children.

The fifth day of the fifth month is called Swinging Day, and is derived from China. Swings are suspended from trees and frames, and everybody indulges in the sport. Boys put on their new clothes at this time. The root of the flag is cut with a sloping edge which is colored red, and this is worn in the hair to ward off calamities. (The Japanese have a holiday at this time, but have no idea of its derivation.)

The sixteenth day of the sixth month is observed as Hair-washing Day. Everybody observes the day except the laborer. At this time wheat cake and macaroni are eaten.

The seventh day of the seventh month is observed as a general holiday, and cake and macaroni are eaten. The holiday is based on the following story: Two stars in heaven were married; one was the daughter of God. Before marriage she was very industrious, but after marriage she became negligent and idle, and God, becoming angry, banished her to the eastern part of the Milky Way, while the male star was sent to the western part of the Heavenly River, as the Japanese call it. The woman had to weave, and the man had to attend cows. The female star is called the Weaver, while the male star is called the Patroller. They are allowed to meet once a year on this day. If it rains during the evening of that day it is interpreted as being caused by the tears of separation.

The fifteenth day of the eighth month is the Harvest holiday.