#Ryotei Kinoene in #Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
September is one of the five seasonal festivals in Japan, also known as "Chou-you-no-Sekku," or "Chou-you-no-Sekku" in Japanese. People decorate chrysanthemum flowers and enjoy sake with chrysanthemum petals floating on it to pray for longevity and good health.
What is Chou-you-no-Sekku?
September 9 is called "Chou-you-no-Sekku," which was introduced from China in the early Heian period (794-1185). It originated as a celebration to wish for good health, prosperity of descendants, and longevity of the family. In China, odd numbers were considered auspicious "yang days," and days with an odd number of overlapping days were considered to be days for celebration. It is said that the day on which the largest number of yang days, "9," overlaps is called "Chou-you," and was made one of the Sekku festivals.
Chou-you-no-Sekku is an event to enjoy "chrysanthemums
September 9 on the lunar calendar falls around the middle of October, when chrysanthemums are at their best. In China, chrysanthemums were believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits, and this belief was passed down to Japan as well, leading to the Chou-you-no-Sekku event to enjoy chrysanthemums. In the early Heian period (794-1185), it became one of the court events, and banquets to appreciate chrysanthemums and to drive away evil spirits using chrysanthemums were held.