Toriaezu Japanese Life

British vs American English; What is Taught in Other Countries

Japan has traditional names for each month, mostly used poetically or in names. They follow the Chinese lunar calendar, so they would start a few weeks later than the Western calendar everyone uses (e.g. the first month could be in mid-January or February). Their names and possible literal meanings in chronological order are:

1 Name: 睦月 (むつき, Mutsuki) Literal Meaning: Month of harmony

2 Name: 如月 / 衣更着 / 更衣 (きさらぎ, Kisaragi) Literal Meaning: Month “like the moon” / Month of changing clothes

3 Name: 弥生 (やよい, Yayoi) Literal Meaning: Growth

4 Name: 卯月 (うづき, Uzuki) Literal Meaning: Month of 卯の花 (うのはな, Unohana), deutzia

5 Name: 皐月 (さつき, Satsuki) Literal Meaning: Month of planting rice sprouts / Month of azaleas

6 Name: 水無月 (みなづき, Minazuki) Literal Meaning: Month of no water (or Month of water, if 無 [な] is interpreted as a particle)

7 Name: 文月 (ふみづき / ふづき, Fumizuki / Fuzuki) Literal Meaning: Month of literature

8 Name: 葉月 (はづき, Hazuki) Literal Meaning: Month of leaves

9 Name: 長月 (ながつき, Nagatsuki) Literal Meaning: The long autumn month

10 Name: 神無月 (かんなづき / かみなづき, Kan'nazuki / Kaminazuki) Literal Meaning: Month of no gods (or Month of gods, if 無 [な] is interpreted as a particle) Note: in Izumo, Tottori prefecture, this month is called 神在月 / 神有月 (かみありづき, Kamiarizuki) ”Month with gods” because the gods gather there.

11 Name: 霜月 (しもつき, Shimotsuki) Literal Meaning: Month of frost

12 Name: 師走 (しわす, Shiwasu) Literal Meaning: Running (busy) priests (for New Years)

Aries Sun: A circle of fire encompassing influences, aspects, etc.