Otsukimi (お月見） means
"viewing（見） the moon（月）".
The tradition originally came from China.
It first arrived in Japan during the Heian
period (794 to 1185). Japanese aristocrats
gathered to recite poetry under the full
moon of September 15th. Later it was
spread further among common people.
Because it was held in the harvest season,
it became an autumn thanksgiving event.
People decorate Susuki(silver glasses)
and offer Odango(rice dumplings)
to the moon.
The rice dumplings show thanks to god
for the rice harvest because they look like
a moon.
You might find "Tsukimi-udon" or
"Tsukimi-soba" on the menu at Japanese
restaurants. They are wheat or buckwheat
noodles with a raw egg on top, which
looks like a full moon.
During Tsukimi season in Japan,
McDonald's sells "Tsukimi burgers"
which is a regular hamburger
topped with a sunny-side egg.
Let's enjoy the harvest moon !