We learn something new everyday, right?
Today, I learned something interesting. Between the years 794- 1185, or the Heinan Period the names of the Japanese months were different than they are now. The months were named based on the lunar calendar. Here they are.
１月- 睦（むつき）Month of harmony
２月- 如月（きさらぎ）Month of wearing extra layers
３月- 弥生（やよい）Month of growth
４月-卯月（うずき）Month of Deutzia (uno hana)
５月-皐月（さつき）Month of playing rice sprouts
６月-水無が（みなずき）Month of no water
７月-文月（ふみずき）Month of literacy
８月-葉月（はずき）Month of leaves
９月-長月（ながつき）Autumn long month
１０月-神無月（かんあずき）Month of no Gods
１１月-霜月（しもつき）Month of frost
１２月-師走（しわす）Month of running priests
“Each old name has a meaning.
If you know about the Japanese climate, you might wonder why minazuki (June) is the month of no water. June is rainy season (tsuyu) in Japan.
However, the old Japanese calendar was about a month behind the European calendar. It means minazuki was from July 7th to August 7th in the past.
It is believed that all the Gods from throughout the country gathered at Izumo Taisha (Izumo Shrine) in kannazuki (October), therefore there were no gods for other prefectures.
December is the busy month. Everyone, even the most respected priests run around for preparation of the New Year. “
via thoughtco
Interesting isn’t it?
xoxo,e