First day of the month - Kamabutatsukiichi

Another name for the 1st of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. It is called this day in the Kanto area. In some areas, it is called Okama no Kuchiake. This day marks the beginning of the Bon Festival, and it is believed that the spirits depart for the houses, so it was strangely called the day the lid of the pot of hell opens. It is said that if you go to an eggplant or potato field and put your ear to the ground, you can hear the sound of the pot of hell opening, and that you can hear the screams of the spirits as they depart on this day. In some places, people pound rice cakes called kamagata mochi, or make and eat burnt rice cakes, but most people simply remember the name. There are many other names for this day, such as the first day of the 7th month of the 1st month of February, the first day of the 1st month of June, the first day of the 1st month of August, and the first day of the 1st month of December, which is called the first day of the 1st month ...

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

旧暦7月1日の異名。関東の諸地でいう。お釜の口明けという地方もある。この日は盆の魂祭りの始まりにあたり、精霊(しょうろう)様が家々に向かって出発するという考えから、地獄の釜の蓋のあく日と、おかしくよび始めたのであろう。ナス畑やイモ畑に行って、地面に耳をつけて聞くと、地獄の釜の蓋があく音がするとも、精霊が旅立つ日なので、その叫び声が聞こえるなどという。釜蓋餅(もち)といって餅を搗(つ)いたり、焼き餅をこしらえて食う所もあるが、単に名称だけを記憶している場合が多い。2月1日を乙子(おとご)の朔日、6月1日をムケの朔日、8月1日を八朔(はっさく)ついたち、12月1日を川渡り朔日など異名が多い。

［井之口章次］

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