Tsukimi Autumn Moon Festival | Learn about this interesting Japanese festival

Japan's Tsukimi Festival Have you ever looked up at the moon and seen the shape of a rabbit? In Japanese folklore, the craters on the moon's surface represent a rabbit making mochi. Today, we are going to learn about Japan's Tsukimi or Autumn Moon Festival and also build a lantern together. For the activity instructions, head over to learnbright.org and download this lesson plan. Ready to get started? Let's go! The history of this special festival goes all the way back to Japan's Heian period, which lasted from 794 to 1185 CE. At the time, royals and nobles would gather together to admire the full moon. They believed that the moon's reflection on the water had special significance, so they would usually view the moon while sitting in boats or being near a body of water. Special rice dumplings called dango were also made to honor the moon and give thanks for a good harvest. Today, Tsukimi keeps many of these traditions alive while adding in more modern touches. Because of the folklore tale of rabbits living on the moon making rice cakes called mochi, rabbits are now a symbol of the festival. And traditional foods featuring rice as a key ingredient, including dango, are also served. Another key highlight of the modern festival is the floating lantern event. Participants release paper lanterns into the air or onto the water, which symbolizes wishes for happiness and good fortune. With that in mind, we are going to make our own paper lanterns. First, let's decorate a piece of construction paper using whatever supplies you have on hand. Include pictures or symbols that remind you of the moon or something else you are thankful for, just like people do to celebrate Tsukimi. After your paper is designed, fold it in half lengthwise like a long rectangle. Then use scissors to cut slits along the folded edge, like so. Here is a pro tip. Make sure that the slits are evenly spaced and don't cut all the way across the paper. Stop when you are about 1 inch away from the open side. Unfold your paper and lay it flat again. Then roll the paper lengthwise so it is a cylinder shape. The slits will now add to the lantern's cool design. Use tape or glue to attach the edges of the paper together so it will hold its shape. Cut a thin strip of paper about an inch wide, and then glue or tape it to the top of your lantern to create a handle. And voila! You have your own lantern. If you want to get super fancy, add a battery-operated tea light to the inside of your lantern to make it glow. You can tape strips of paper to the bottom of the lantern in a star-like pattern to attach it. Thanks for learning and creating with us today. See you next time! and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers