KIKU NO SEKKU

I always thought that seven is perceived as a lucky number and probably for many it is, but in Japan the luckiest number is nine because it is the last and highest basic odd number. And because it is so, 9. 9. is a day that Japanese people perceive with a sense of extraordinaryness and think that it must be like this all over the world.

 In Japan, September 9th is the last holiday of the five sekku and it is called Choyo no Sekku. It is the chrysanthemum holiday. A holiday that is associated with the harvest and thanksgiving. And also with the moon in the sky. The moon is slightly in mist in autumn time and people perceive its mystery meditating about what will happen next. They think about what awaits them, and in fear of evil they drink chrysanthemum sake. We all want to live long and in health, and chrysanthemum as an herb is among those plants that promise protection. So if you remember this on September 9th and pour yourself a cup of sake, put two or three chrysanthemum petals in your sake. It will look good. Most chrysanthemums are edible flowers, so you can eat the petals soaked in sake. Interestingly enough chrysanthemum is contained in repellents that protect us from insects. So glory to chrysanthemums! Glory to longevity!

In Japan they had a nice custom when people wiped their faces with silk puffs which they let soak in the scent of chrysanthemums. Overnight. It’s called Kisewata and it was thought to protect against aging. Interestingly, it was important for people which chrysanthemum of what color would be reflected in which colored silk. Red chrysanthemum into white silk, white chrysanthemum into yellow silk, and yellow chrysanthemum into red silk. Why? Don’t ask, it’s just the way it was and probably is. Japanese customs don’t change much and people don’t even investigate why something is. They are satisfied with the fact that it is and that it is celebrated.

And because any celebration can be embellished with a doll, yes there is one for Choyo no Sekku, and people call it Nochi no hina. It is a human couple similar to the Ohinasama girls’ festival, but here the prince is more dominant and has open arms, the princess stands next to him and is much smaller. The dolls are sent by deities and are supposed to protect people and bring them luck.

And what food is eaten during the Chrysanthemum Festival? Of course, chrysanthemums. There are several types of chrysanthemums, such as the Sakamoto or Aboukyu varieties, which are very popular in Japanese cuisine. In a slightly vinegared version, it is a wonderful dish. The Choyo no Sekku festival has a completely different atmosphere than the summer Tanabata, when street food is eaten. Chuyo no Sekku does not boast of gastronomic diversity, but the dishes that are prepared have a touch of nobility. They do not use unusual or expensive ingredients, as in New Year’s meals, but simple ingredients with a great spiritual charge. Chrysanthemums. Rice. Chestnuts are added to the rice to make it even more festive. Eggplant. In Japan, they even promised it to the nine. It is eaten a lot in September and its September eating got its own word in the Japanese language – Mikunichi nasu (nasu is eggplant). Mi means three, Ku means nine, Nichi means day. The meaning is that these are the three days with number nine in the ninth month. 9, 19 and 29. Always with eggplant. In addition to eggplant dishes, there are other September dishes made from ingredients that are harvested at that time. Many are called Kunichi ryouri. Ryouri of the ninth month.

With September, summer ends and autumn begins, so I wish you a nice harvest of summer experiences and a beautiful harvest of all kinds of ingredients that you may have grown yourself. Pumpkins, zucchini. There are so many gifts from the fields and gardens! We will harvest apples, pears and maybe even quinces. I love that time very much and I’m sure you do too.

Welcome to autumn! In Japan, in the Czech Republic and everywhere in the world!

Your Miyabi Darja