🌾GIFT TO THE GODS✨
The 1st day of the 8th month in the traditional calendar is known as 'Hachigatsu sakujitsu' (八月朔日), shortened to 'Hassaku' (八朔).
At this time farmers would make offerings of the first ripe rice to the gods, and gradually it became a time of gift giving.
In the Kyōto hanamachi (花街) geiko and maiko call upon ochaya and shishōtaku (師匠宅) to deliver gifts to those that have taught and supported them during the year thus far.
Geiko borrowed the tradition of summer gift giving from farmers.
Around August 1st the rice begins to ripen, and the first crop (初穂 'hatsuho') would be harvested & gifted to gods, benefactors and supporters as a prayer or thanks.
First crop giving was known as 'Tanomi-no-sekku' (田の実の節供 'festival of the rice crop').
'Tanomi' (田の実), meaning 'rice', was also a homonym for '頼み', meaning 'reliance'. People thus gave gifts to those they relied on (farmers, samurai and even nobles would give thanks).
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