Izayoi (the Night of the 16th Moon)
Tonight in the PNW is the night after the full moon. It's the 16th day of a lunar month, and write as "十六夜" (the 16th night). "十六" is 16, usually read as "juroku" in Japanese. "夜" is night, and read as "yoru" or "ya." You'd think it'd read like "Jyuroku ya." I know. I mean, what else? However, 十六夜's pronunciation is "Izayoi." Yes, impossible to figure out. How did that happnen? The reason we were told was that the word "izayoi" derives from an Old Japanese verb, which means "to hesitate." It's named after the moon's slight delay in rising compared to the full moon on the 15th night. Okay...... kinda evocative, yes. But.... um... WHY?!?!?!