10 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



and cake rice (a peculiar kind of rice) boiled together. This food 

 is called medicine food, and is supposed to be prophylactic and 

 also to strengthen the brain. In the country, torches are lighted 

 to welcome the moon, and people assemble in great numbers to 

 catch the first glimpse of the moon, as it insures happiness. This 

 day is also observed as All-Fools' Day. A favorite trick is to 

 attach a flower secretly to some one's clothing. 



In the second month, usually on the sixteenth, Butterfly holi- 

 day occurs. The third day of the third month is observed as the 

 Flower holiday. On this day young men make cake of flowers 

 mixed with wheat and rice, and this is fried ; they also cook fish, 

 and other articles of food. 



The eighth day of the fourth month is called by the Buddhists 

 the Washing-day of Buddha. Households have a lantern for each 

 person, and these are supplied with oil lamps instead of candles, 

 as candles are made of ox fat or honeycomb, and Buddha forbids 

 the killing of animals. Oil for lamps is always a vegetable oil. 

 The lower classes attend church on this day and sacrifice to Bud- 

 dha. A cake is made of black beans, and this was formerly deco- 

 rated with flowers; now this is rarely done, though artificial 

 flowers are sometimes used for this purpose. At this time forms 

 of animals are made of meal or lime and sold to the children. 



The fifth day of the fifth month is called Swinging Day, and 

 is derived from China. Swings are suspended from trees and 

 frames, and everybody indulges in the sport. Boys put on their 

 new clothes at this time. The root of the flag is cut with a slop- 

 ing edge which is colored red, and this is worn in the hair to 

 ward off calamities. (The Japanese have a holiday at this time, 

 but have no idea of its derivation.) 



The sixteenth day of the sixth month is observed as Hair- 

 washing Day. Everybody observes the day except the laborer. 

 At this time wheat cake and macaroni are eaten. 



The seventh day of the seventh month is observed as a general 

 holiday, and cake and macaroni are eaten. The holiday is based 

 on the following story : Two stars in heaven were married ; one 

 was the daughter of God. Before marriage she was very indus- 

 trious, but after marriage she became negligent and idle, and 

 God, becoming angry, banished her to the eastern part of the 

 Milky Way, while the male star was sent to the western part of 

 the Heavenly Kiver, as the Japanese call it. The woman had 

 to weave, and the man had to attend cows. The female star is 

 called the Weaver, while the male star is called the Patroller. 

 They are allowed to meet once a year on this day. If it rains 

 during the evening of that day it is interpreted as being caused 

 by the tears of separation. 



The fifteenth day of the eighth month is the Harvest holiday. 



