Wednesday, December 17, 2014

What is the “White Moon”?



18 December 2014

The Short Answer (TSA)


            In China, autumn’s Kindly Moon is followed by winter’s White Moon.  The ancient Chinese calendar was remarkably accurate for its time.  And, that was a good thing because life was carefully regulated by certain observances on certain days.  The White Moon was the last full moon before the winter solstice and came in the middle of a 29 day period: the month of the White Moon.

            The first day of the month of the White Moon was the day of “Stuffing Up Windows.”  On that day, people stuffed every crack and crevice they could find in their homes with heavy paper to prevent droughts and loss of heat during the winter season.  The old calendar even regulated when the clothing of the old season was abandoned in favor of clothing appropriate to the changing weather of the new season. 

            The “white” symbolizes the frozen landscapes and waterways of the season.  Surprisingly, with the use of ice skates and sleds, travel in this season was faster than ever.  In fact, freed from the work of farming, the winter season used to be one of fighting with feuding.  Armed confrontations not just between states, but between neighbors often erupted at this time.  The Chinese calendar even recommends fortification of one’s location during this season.

            A strategy developed of keeping conflicts to a minimum by having a great feast around the time of the Winter Solstice (the first day of winter).   Warriors were the guests of honor.  The hope was that the feasting and celebrating warriors wouldn’t have the opportunity to start trouble.  This feast for warriors around the first day of winter is strangely similar to the northern European Yule Feast which was also held for warriors in the same season.

            As the years past, the Chinese feast became a general celebration expressing optimism and hope for the coming spring. 

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