And so we offer these prayers,
and these first fruits,
and this fresh wine,
all reverently prepared
On this fall morning,
I praise you humbly
as I watch you rise
in all your glory
-Japanese Norito
This poem to the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu is appropriate for a festival celebrating the chrysanthemum, a flower considered by occultists and folklorists to be under the aegis of the sun. Like a solar disc, the chrysanthemum flower on the imperial seal of Japan has 16 petal "sunrays" emanating from a central core. The word "chrysanthemum" translates as "gold flower" (Greek: chrysos=gold, anthos=flower) and although the blossoms come in various colours, they all seem to have a touch of gold, like the sun.
In Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of autumn, blooming still when most other flowers have faded and gone to seed. China celebrates this festival too, calling it the Chong Yang, or "Double Ninth" festival. It is considered good luck to pick the flower on the 9th day of the 9th month, which in the East is not generally in September, but this year will fall on October 16, when the moon is "nine days old," i.e. is nine days since the new moon of their ninth month.
Extravagant floral displays and lyrical flute music grace the streets, the flower's petals dress up salads, and chrysanthemum teas and wines are raised to long life, duration and wisdom.
According to Ted Andrews, the numen spirit of the mum opens hearts, stimulates vitality and strengthens the life force. The late Scott Cunningham claimed that growing in the garden, the plant protects it from evil forces; if alive today, Mr. Cunningham might suggest that celebrants follow the chrysanthemum wine with the flower's tea, because the infusion is believed to cure drunkenness.
Chinese herbalists also concoct a flea powder from the petals.
In Japan, the observance of this day began over 2000 years ago. We don't have a festival for chrysanthemums in my town, and today, the ninth day of the ninth month in the West, the mums at our nurseries are just beginning to bud. But soon our local Renaissance Festival will be bursting with them!
Although it is the official flower of the city of Chicago, I found no festival for the chrysanthemum there. But Connecticut has one. So does Germany. A bit far to travel to see a display of mums, although I wouldn't be oppposed to taking an autumn holiday in Japan. Think I'll just go to the garden center and get some mums of my own. They should be in bloom by October 16.
In Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of autumn, blooming still when most other flowers have faded and gone to seed. China celebrates this festival too, calling it the Chong Yang, or "Double Ninth" festival. It is considered good luck to pick the flower on the 9th day of the 9th month, which in the East is not generally in September, but this year will fall on October 16, when the moon is "nine days old," i.e. is nine days since the new moon of their ninth month.
Extravagant floral displays and lyrical flute music grace the streets, the flower's petals dress up salads, and chrysanthemum teas and wines are raised to long life, duration and wisdom.
According to Ted Andrews, the numen spirit of the mum opens hearts, stimulates vitality and strengthens the life force. The late Scott Cunningham claimed that growing in the garden, the plant protects it from evil forces; if alive today, Mr. Cunningham might suggest that celebrants follow the chrysanthemum wine with the flower's tea, because the infusion is believed to cure drunkenness.
Chinese herbalists also concoct a flea powder from the petals.
In Japan, the observance of this day began over 2000 years ago. We don't have a festival for chrysanthemums in my town, and today, the ninth day of the ninth month in the West, the mums at our nurseries are just beginning to bud. But soon our local Renaissance Festival will be bursting with them!
Although it is the official flower of the city of Chicago, I found no festival for the chrysanthemum there. But Connecticut has one. So does Germany. A bit far to travel to see a display of mums, although I wouldn't be oppposed to taking an autumn holiday in Japan. Think I'll just go to the garden center and get some mums of my own. They should be in bloom by October 16.
