Macaron Day

What Is Macaron Day?

October 9th is "Macaron Day" in Japan. It was established by the All Japan Macaron Association, which works to popularize the iconic French confection in Japan, and was registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2018. The date has a playful origin based on the macaron's shape and a seasonal word.

A Date Drawn From Shapes and Wordplay

Several visual and verbal puns are layered into the date of Macaron Day.

• Why October: a macaron standing on its edge looks like a "1" from the side, and lying flat it looks like a "0" from above
• Why the 9th: the joy a macaron brings is likened to the magatama, a comma-shaped jewel that symbolizes good fortune and resembles a "9"
• Seasonal link: this time of year falls in "Kanro" (Cold Dew) on the traditional calendar, which sounds like "kanro," meaning sweet nectar, fitting for a sweet treat
• Purpose: to share the appeal of macarons with more people

Macarons and Macaroni Share a Root

A macaron is a baked confection made from egg whites, sugar and almonds, shaped as two domed halves a few centimeters across sandwiched together. Since more than half of it is sugar, it is very sweet. Theories of its origin vary: some say Italy, while another credits the Cormery Abbey in 8th-century France. The word is said to share its origin with "macaroni," the Italian pasta.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Pick up macarons from your favorite pastry shop
• Taste and compare macarons in different colors and flavors
• Bring macarons to share during a break at work
• Look at a macaron from the side and from above to see the "10"

One Small Sweet Can Brighten an Autumn Day

Colorful macarons lift your mood just by looking at them. On October 9th, take a moment to relax with a sweet macaron.