Tsukimi [月見], or moon viewing. In autumn, the moon looks particularly beautiful. Japanese celebrate the Harvest moon during the Chushu no Meigetsu [中秋の名月]. (Believed to be Oct 1 this year)
Offerings of seasonal chestnuts, persimmons, taro, and tsukimi dango are situated under the direct moonlight to show thanks for another bountiful harvest.
Often times, mochi is also shaped like a rabbit due to the stories surrounding the moon rabbit. In this belief, the marking on the moon's surface resembles a rabbit pounding a pestle.
Sun Wukong fights the moon rabbit, Journey to the West (16th Century, China)
The tsukimi festival is actually the inspiration behind my current website header.
I've also just learned that we have legends of the moon rabbit here in America. I never knew, and will be looking into this soon. Along with many other things concerning our rich Aboriginal culture here in the Americas.
More of the Maya Lunar Goddess with rabbit
You might not understand any of these connections now, but it'll make sense eventually.
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