Day of the Ox - Ushi no Hi

This is the day that corresponds to the Ox day of the Chinese zodiac. There is still a widespread belief that if you eat eel, udon noodles, or other foods with the letter "U" in their names on the summer Doyo no Ushi Day (around July 20th), you will not lose weight in the summer. It is also said that red beni bought on the Ox Day of Kan (around January 6th or 7th to February 3rd) will prevent your mouth from becoming dry. In northern Kyushu, the first Ox Day of Shimotsuki (November) is called "Ox Day Festival" or "Ox Day Festival," and is a harvest festival day to worship the god of the fields. In Saga Prefecture and other areas, the Ox Day in February is called "Deushi" and the Ox Day in November is called "Agaru Ushi." The god of the fields is worshiped before the start of farm work, and a festival of thanks is also held when the autumn harvest is over, which is linked to the nationwide tradition that the mountain god descends to the fields in spring to become the god of the fields, and returns to the mountains in autumn to become the god of the mountains again. This may be a reflection of the fact that cows were often used for farming in western Japan. At the time of harvest, about two handfuls of rice are called ushi no mai (ox rice) and are worshiped by offering sacred sake (omikki).

[Shoji Inoguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

十二支の丑にあたる日。夏の土用の丑の日（7月20日ごろ）にウナギ、うどんなど「う」の字のつくものを食べると、夏やせしないなどの俗信はいまも広く行われている。また、寒(かん)（1月6、7日ごろ～2月3日ごろ）の丑の日に買った紅(べに)は、口中の荒れを防ぐという。九州の北部一帯では、霜月（11月）初丑の日を「丑の日節供」とも「丑の日祭り」ともいい、田の神を祀(まつ)る収穫祭の日としている。佐賀県などでは2月の丑の日を出丑(でうし)、11月の丑の日を上がり丑という。農作業の開始に先だって田の神を祀り、秋の収穫が終わったときも感謝の祭りをするということで、春に山の神が田に下りて田の神になり、秋には山に帰って山の神になるという全国的な伝承と一連のものである。西日本では農耕に牛を使うことが多かったから、その反映もあろう。取り入れのときに、二つかみほどの稲を丑の稲といって、御神酒(おみき)をあげて祀る。

［井之口章次］

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