Mid Autumn
The Japanese festival Otsukimi
The Japanese festival Otsukimi, also known as the Moon Viewing Festival, is celebrated annually on the night of the full moon in the eighth lunar month. It's a time for Japanese people to express their profound reverence for nature, especially the moon, which symbolizes perfection and pure beauty. Otsukimi also serves as an occasion to give thanks to the deities and ancestors for bountiful harvests and to pray for good fortune in the future.
From the aristocrats of the Heian period to the common folk of the Edo period, the Japanese have long venerated the moon as a sacred deity. The full moon is considered most beautiful in the middle of autumn when the sky is clear and the air is cool, regarded as an auspicious sign and a symbol of abundance.
Calligraphy artwork "Kacho Fugetsu" by Kanda Tomomichi - Member of the Judging Panel of the Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition (Source: Mainichi Shimbun Newspaper)
The Japanese term "ka-cho-fu-getsu," which translates to "flower - bird - wind and moon," embodies the natural beauty of the seasons through elegant pleasures such as poetry and art. The inclusion of the moon in this phrase highlights the special appreciation the Japanese have for the beauty of the moon in their traditional aesthetics. The moon also serves as a major inspiration in Japanese art, from poetry to painting, reflecting its deep cultural significance.
Ohara Koson, “Grasshopper and Full Moon”, 1910
The Vietnamese mid-autumn festival
Alongside Tet Nguyen Dan, Mid-Autumn Festival stands as a significant cultural celebration in Vietnamese culture. Known also as the Moon Festival, it's a time for appreciating the stunning beauty of the moon and expressing reverence for nature.
— a Vietnamese proverb reflects the deep agricultural roots of the festival. Vietnamese farmers have historically observed the cosmos with great detail attention to aid their farming activities, using the moon's phases to predict agricultural outcomes. It is believed that a golden autumn moon forecasts a bountiful season, a greenish moon predicts natural disasters, and a bright orange moon signifies national prosperity. Thus, moon watching in Vietnamese culture is not only a spiritual and cultural activity but also closely linked to agricultural life.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam beautifully captures the essence of its agricultural-based culture, emphasizing community spirit and a deep connection with nature. Under the beautiful full moon, people relax and rejuvenate their spirits with tea and sweet wine, enjoying the picturesque outdoors alongside their families or loved ones. Thus, the festival not only serves as a cultural identifier for the Vietnamese people but also enriches their spiritual life, highlighting the profound cultural identity of the nation.
The scent of autumn
The Mid-Autumn festival arrives, bringing the finest gifts from nature, as it generously endows the season with wholeness, fruition, and tranquility.
Every autumn breeze carries the shifting fragrance of nature, creating a space filled with colors, scents and tastes, where every emotion seems encapsulated in tranquil moments under the full moonlight.
The cool autumn air brings subtle hints of freshly-made cốm (green rice flakes) wrapped in lotus leaves, the gentle aroma of ripe “thị” (gold apple - a bright yellow berry with tropical aromatic smell when ripe,) at the garden's edge, and the sweet scent of ylangylang flowers around the street corners, inviting us to take a deep breath, sip some tea, and leisurely enjoy these sensory experience, welcoming a season of peace and love.
From us to you
Dedicated to those who cherish the scent of Vietnam, areme presents to you the refreshing fragrance of Diễn pomelo. Akin to the full moon that and symbolizing symbolizes completeness, pomelo is an essential fruit in the Mid-Autumn Festival feast, representing reunion, warmth, and abundance. The subtle yet lingering scent of Diễn pomelo evokes sweet and happy memories of home and all things dear - our wishes to you this season.
Celebrating Mid-autumn festival, areme offers a 20% discount on our Diễn pomelo essential oil. This offer is available when purchasing online through our website, or via areme's Instagram and Facebook, from September 5, 2024, until September 17, 2024.
Wishing you a wholesome and peaceful mid-autumn festival!
with much love,
areme team