September 23 is shubun no hi (秋分の日), the Autumn Equinox Day. The length of day and night is the same.
In Japan a week between the Equinox Day is called o higan (お彼岸) and we visit the ancestors graves around this time. The sweets offered to them is called o hagi (お萩) this time, and botamochi (牡丹餅) in spring time. Both are same sweets but called differently in season.
There is a saying "atsusa samusa mo higan made (暑さ寒さも彼岸まで)" which means the heat and the cold will last until the Equinox Day.
This summer was extremely hot in Japan. So everybody is looking forward to the autumn.
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