First day of the month - First day of the month

Another name for the 1st of the 6th month of the lunar calendar. In the Imperial Court, it was called Himuro no Sechie, and it is said that in the old days, there was an event where ice stored in the Himuro from winter was given to ministers. In the common people, some of the Kagami mochi (rice cakes with a mirror) from New Year is saved and roasted and eaten on this day as a tooth-hardening ritual. This day is also called Muke Sekku, Mukekae Sakubi, Muke no Sakubi, Kinu-nari no Sakubi, Watanuki no Sakubi, Iri-gashi-bon, Yakimochi Sakubi, Mushi-fuuji Sakubi, etc. It is said that this is the day when human skin is shed and replaced, so people eat yamaimo (Japanese yam) and pick their ears, and it is said that snakes shed their skin on this day so they should not enter mulberry fields. It seems that this was a day of taboo prior to the Water God Festival, and it is thought that the explanation of taboo has changed and given rise to various legends.

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

旧暦6月1日の異称。宮中では氷室(ひむろ)の節会(せちえ)といい、古くは氷室に冬から蓄えておいた氷を群臣に賜る行事があったという。民間では、正月の鏡餅(かがみもち)の一部を残しておき、歯固めなどといって、この日に炒(い)って食べる所が多い。この日をムケ節供(せっく)、ムケカエ朔日、ムケの朔日、衣(きぬ)脱ぎの朔日、綿(わた)抜きの朔日、炒り菓子盆、焼餅節供、虫封じ朔日などという。人間の皮がむけ変わる日だといって、山芋を食べて耳くじりをしたり、蛇が皮を脱ぐ日だから桑畑に入るなといったりする。水神祭りに先だつ物忌みの日であったようで、物忌みの説明が変化して種々の伝承を生んだものと思われる。

［井之口章次］

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