Japanese Month Names (Wafū Getsumei) ②

July: Fumizuki (文月) Named after the tradition of writing poems or wishes on short strips of paper (tanzaku) during Tanabata (Star Festival). August: Hazuki (葉月) Originally 'Ochizuki' (葉落ち月), meaning 'the month when leaves fall'. As autumn begins in the old lunar calendar, tree leaves start to wither and fall. It was later shortened from 'the month of falling leaves' to 'Hazuki'. September: Nagatsuki (長月) Originally 'Yonagatsuki' (夜長月), meaning 'the month of long nights'. After the autumn equinox, the nights noticeably become longer. Ancient people thus abbreviated this month of long nights to 'Nagatsuki'. October: Kannazuki (神無月) The month when gods are away. According to legend, in the tenth lunar month, the 8 million (Yaoyorozu) gods of Japan leave their respective territories and travel to 'Izumo Taisha' for an annual meeting. *Therefore, only the Izumo region calls this month 'Kamiarizuki' (神在月), meaning 'the month when gods are present'. Ya (八): Many, infinite O (お): Accumulation of numbers Yorozu (よろず): All kinds, myriad things Thus, Yaoyorozu (八百万) signifies 'an infinite, countless number'. November: Shimotsuki (霜月) As the weather grows cold, the first frost begins to fall on the land (霜の降る月). December: Shiwasu (師走) Meaning 'the running of teachers' (師馳す). At the end of December, every household prepares for 'Oharae' (exorcism rituals) and ceremonies for ancestors and deities. Local Shinto priests and Buddhist monks (historically called 'Shi', meaning teacher) would be busy rushing to each household to conduct services, hence it became known as 'Shiwasu'.