On Tanabata in Hokkaido, there is a custom called "Rousoku-morai" where children go around houses singing "Bring out the candles, give them out" and receive sweets. This custom is rarely seen these days, but today we will introduce what "Rousoku-morai" is.

On Tanabata, children sing, "Bring out the candles, bring them out!"

Tanabata in Hokkaido is divided into areas where it is celebrated on July 7th, which follows the lunar calendar, and areas where it is celebrated on August 7th, which follows the Gregorian calendar, but in southern Hokkaido and Hakodate, Tanabata is celebrated on July 7th. On Tanabata day, children in Hakodate dress up in yukata robes, hold lanterns, sing songs, and receive sweets from adults. The song they sing at that time is a bit unusual, "Bring out the candles, bring out the candles!" It plays a similar role to Halloween's "Trick or Treat!"

This custom was once practiced throughout Hokkaido, and the custom itself is sometimes called "getting candles" or "putting out candles." The characteristic children's songs seem to have differed depending on the region.

In the central, northern and eastern parts of Hokkaido, the most well-known song is, "Bring out the candle, bring it out, if you don't, I'll bite you, I'll bite you, I won't let you go," and many people have probably heard it. In the Hakodate area of southern Hokkaido, the song goes, "Let's celebrate the Tanabata Festival with a tanzaku on a bamboo stick, just give me a candle."

In fact, there are too many variations to list here, but the gist is, "Give me a candle! If you don't, I'll bite you!"

It was once practiced in various parts of Hokkaido, but has gradually decreased...

According to Odashima Masako's book "Hokkaido Annual Events," as of 1996, "candle-collecting" was practiced in every region throughout Hokkaido. However, as the years went by, the number of regions that participated gradually decreased, and now it is mostly known as a custom that continues mainly in Hakodate.

But why do children ask for candles in this "candle-grabbing" event? When we looked into the reason, we found that the roots of this tradition lie in Hakodate.