WAHUGETSUMEI

In Japan, months
are commonly called 1-12 numbers + Gatsu (means Month), like 一月IchiGatsu (means
First Month, January), 二月 NiGatsu (means Second
Month, February), 三月 SanGatsu (means Third Month,
March) and so on. Apart from that, there are other beautiful names of twelve
months.
Have you heard
of WahuGetsuMei?
和 – WA =
Japanese
風 – HU =
Style
月 – GETSU =
Month
名 – MEI =
Name
Japan has been
using the new calendar based on the solar calendar (Gregorian calendar) since
1873, though they used to use the old calendar by the lunar calendar (old
Chinese calendar). WahuGetsuMei was named based on this old lunar calendar.
新暦(太陽暦) - ShinReki (
TaiyoReki ) = New Calendar
旧暦(太陰暦) - KyuReki (
TaiinReki ) = Old Calendar
The old calendar
starts around three to seven weeks later than the new calendar, so the names of
WahuGetsuMei do not match the current season. It might be easier to understand
the words are about one month behind the recent seasons. For example, the
name below 弥生(Yayoi) March shows
April at present.
There are many
things uncertain about WahuGetsuMei, the history behind, when it started, where
it came from and how these twelve names remained. It is said that people have
been using the current style since the 17th century. Each name has its own
origin with various different stories and we will introduce the most common
ones as below.
First of all, it
might be useful to know how we call a month in Japanese.
月 – Tsuki or
Zuki = Month
睦月 – MuTsuki = January
A month of harmony,
family and people gather around to celebrate the New Year.
如月(衣更着) – Kisaragi = February
A month you need to
wear many layers as it is cold.
弥生 – Yayoi = March
A month of seeds
sprouting and flowers blooming, the beginning of spring.
卯月 – Uzuki =
April
A month of Deutzias
blooming
皐月(早月) – SaTsuki = May
A month relating
agriculture, especially rice-planting.
水無月 - MinaTsuki/MinaZuki
= June
It literally looks
like ‘No Water Month’ as 水無 means ‘No Water’, but it means ‘a month needing water’. A month you need to draw water into paddy fields just after the
rainy season.
文月 - FumiZuki/FuZuki =
July
A month of the ear
of rice bending downward for harvesting
There is another
story that at 七夕Tanabata festival on July 7th people used
to hang out books in the sun to dry. It is called Fumi Wo Hiraku (means open
books), and has changed to FumiHirogeTsuki and became FumiZuki eventually.
葉月 - HaZuki/HaTsuki =
August
A month all leaves
start falling down
長月 - NagaZuki/NagaTsuki
= September
A month with long
nights
神無月 – KannaZuki = October
The origin of the
word is ‘a month of the Gods,’ but it is more common
for now that no gods around as all deities in Japan go to Izumo 出雲 to meet up at
Izumo Shirin 出雲大社 IzumoOoyashiro/IzumoTaisha, one of the
oldest and most significant shrines in Japan.
霜月 – ShimoTsuki = November
A month of frost
師走 – Shiwasu = December
A month teachers
and priests run around busily

Even though these names are not used in our daily conversation, they are seen in books, poetry, traditional Japanese flower arrangement, Japanese calligraphy, formal letters and speeches and so on. These names are not only words but a kind of expression for Japanese people to feel seasons.