Have you ever heard this one in the "Hyakunin Isshi"?

This poem was recited by Soujō Henjō at the Gosetsu act the day after Niiname-no-matsuri.

The poem is asking the winds to close the passageway in the clouds, so that the person could watch the angels just a while longer.

The angels in this poem actually refer to the dancers at Gosetsu, who are beautiful like angels, fascinating the narrator with their performance.

Niiname-no-matsuri is an imperial ritual held on the 23rd of November. "Nii" refers to the new grain, "name" to a feast. It means thanking the gods for the new crop.

The Gosetsu is held the day after, viewed at shrines and the like. It's thought that it was originally a prayer for an abundant harvest, performed by dancers in country villages, but eventually given imperial status.

In modern days, the 23rd of November has also become Labor Thanksgiving Day. Wonder if that's going to cross over here too?

As for how two national holidays ended up on the same day, it's a long story...

During the Allied occupation of Japan after WW2, imperial rituals and the emperor's constitutional functions were split up → For the public, the holiday became Niiname-no-matsuri became Labor Thanksgiving instead

When the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, the old calendar's 11th month would have inconveniently ended up in January → They decided to keep it on the 23rd of November anyway

This day is an ancient and very important harvest festival. I suppose it retains that meaning to this day, huh?

Well then...

Soujō Henjō