24 solar terms No. 7 [Beginning of Summer]

The beginning of summer.

The season when the earth is covered with grass and trees flourish.
Carp streamers swim in the refreshing breeze under the blue sky.

The start of summer is said to be the most comfortable season of the year.

"Rikka" is written as "summer stands" and means "the time when signs of summer begin to appear." "Ri" represents the beginning of a new season, and on the calendar, summer lasts from the beginning of summer until the day before the beginning of autumn.

Now, let us introduce some events that take place around the beginning of summer (Rikka).

[Events around the beginning of summer]

・Children's Day and Boys' Festival (May 5th)
・Mother's Day (May 14th)

▼ About the Boys' Festival

Food for Boys' Festival

"Chimaki" and "Kashiwamochi" are well known as seasonal foods for celebrating the Boys' Festival, but some people may be wondering which one they should prepare.

◆The origin of chimaki◆
Zongzi originates from a Chinese story.
About 2,300 years ago in China, there was a poet named Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was also a capable politician and served as a close aide to the king. He was loved by the people for his sense of justice and strong love for his country, but he was overthrown by a conspiracy and exiled from the country.
The long narrative poem "Li Sao," which describes his feelings at that time, became a masterpiece of Chinese literature, but Qu Yuan, disappointed with the future of his country, threw himself into the river. That day was May 5th.
People mourned Qu Yuan's death and on the anniversary of his death they would throw offerings to him in remembrance, but the offerings were stolen by an evil dragon before they could reach Qu Yuan. So they wrapped glutinous rice in elm leaves (other theories say they are made from thatch or bamboo), which dragons hate, and tied it with five-colored (red, blue, yellow, white, black) threads to ward off evil spirits before throwing it into the river, and it would reach Qu Yuan safely.
This is the origin of chimaki. The custom of making chimaki on May 5th to ward off misfortune was introduced to Japan. The five colored threads tied to the chimaki (red, blue, yellow, white, and black) (derived from the five elements of Yin and Yang) are meant to ward off evil spirits and ensure the safe growth of children, and are reflected in the streamers on carp streamers.

◆The origin of Kashiwamochi◆
While chimaki are from China, kashiwamochi are unique to Japan and were created in Edo during the Edo period. The kashiwa tree that wraps kashiwamochi has long been considered a sacred tree (because the old leaves do not fall until new shoots appear, it is said that gods reside there, and the leaves have a fragrant scent and are used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits). In addition, because the old leaves do not fall until new shoots appear the following year, kashiwamochi is associated with "unbroken succession" and "prosperity of descendants," making it an auspicious food for the Boys' Festival.

As such, the two foods celebrated on the Boys' Festival, chimaki and kashiwamochi, each have their own origins, but while kashiwamochi spread throughout the country reflecting Edo culture, chimaki was passed down in Kyoto culture, which values ​​tradition, and even today kashiwamochi is popular in the Kanto region and chimaki in the Kansai region.

Rice planting ritual

The beginning of summer marks the start of rice planting and also the beginning of the rainy season.

In some regions, festivals are held to pray for a good harvest, where women and children are purified and then they plant rice and dance to pray for a good harvest.

Mother's Day May 14, 2023

Mother's Day is a day to express gratitude to mothers , and falls on the second Sunday of May every year. On Mother's Day, it is customary to give gifts and flowers to mothers to show gratitude and respect. May 5th is also Children's Day, which, according to the National Holidays Act, is "a day to respect the individuality of children, to promote their happiness, and to express gratitude to mothers."

Of course, it is a day to pray for the healthy growth of children, but it is also a day for children to thank their mothers for giving birth to them.

This means that Mother's Day can be interpreted as a day for families to express their gratitude to their mothers, and for mothers to share the joy of becoming a mother with their children and family, saying "thank you for being born."

Mother's Day and Carnations

Giving carnations on Mother's Day has long been a standard gift. The origin of this is that carnations have a characteristic in that they do not drop their petals as they wither, but rather keep their petals attached to the center, and as they wither, they resemble a mother holding her child close to her chest. This represents the idea that "a mother's love never fades," and carnations have been cherished as a symbol of Mother's Day.

In addition, the flower language of carnations is "innocent and deep love." It is believed that carnations were chosen for this reason as well.

Each flower has its own meaning, and even flowers of the same variety can have different meanings depending on their color and number. Let's take a look at the meanings of carnations by color!

●A classic! Vivid "red carnations"●

Red carnations represent "love for mother," "mother's love," "pure love," and "true love." They also mean "I want to see you," making them a perfect gift for a mother who lives far away.

●Deep red●

The flower language of deep red carnations, such as wine red and maroon, is "sorrow in the heart." Although it gives a sophisticated and elegant impression, the flower language's meaning is not very appropriate for a gift.

●White Carnation●

It has both positive meanings such as "pure love" and "respect" as well as the negative meaning of "rejection of love."
In addition, there is a custom of giving white carnations to the grave or Buddhist altar when "memorializing a deceased mother" or on Mother's Day. Some people think that it is not appropriate to give to someone who is still alive. Be sure to combine it with other flowers in an arranged bouquet.

●Pink Carnation●

Pink carnations, often given on Mother's Day, have the meaning of "gratitude." They also represent "women's love," "beautiful gestures," "elegance," "elegance," and "warm hearts." This color makes them the perfect gift.

●Yellow Carnation●

Yellow carnations have the meanings of "beauty" and "friendship." In addition, they also have the meanings of "contempt" and "jealousy." Yellow is a color with a positive impression, but in the language of flowers it often has a negative meaning.

●The meaning of orange carnation flowers●

Orange carnations represent "pure love." They also mean "I love you," so they are perfect not only for Mother's Day, but also as a gift for your lover.

●The language of purple carnations●

The chic purple carnation has the meanings of "pride" and "elegance." However, it also has negative meanings such as "whimsical" and "fickle," so it's a good idea to give it as a gift by combining it with other colors.

●The meaning of blue carnation flowers●

The flower's meaning is "eternal happiness." The blue carnation was developed through genetic modification and is named "Moondust." There are varieties such as aqua blue and lilac blue, and in reality, the color is closer to purple than blue.

You often see colorful rainbow colored carnations or bright blue carnations on sale, but these are actually white carnations that have been colored with colored water.

●Green Carnation●

The flower language of the gentle green carnation is "healing" and "pure love." The green color, which evokes a sense of nature, is said to have a healing and relaxing effect on people.

Give as many carnations as you like!

There is no particular number that is recommended for a bouquet on Mother's Day. If you are unsure of how many carnations to give on Mother's Day, it might be interesting to incorporate such thoughts into your bouquet. However, unlike roses, the meaning of carnations does not change depending on the number you give, so you can choose according to your budget.

1: Gratitude
2: Sincerity
3: Happiness
4: Trust
5: Hope
6: Love
7: Passion
8: Truth
9: Respect
10: Glory
11: Effort
12 bottles: Eternity


Choosing the number of carnations for Mother's Day based on the meaning of flowers

1: If you simply want to express your gratitude
8 sticks: To express gratitude for the kindness
12 sticks: Recommended as a gift to express meanings such as gratitude, love, happiness, and respect.


By the way, the third Sunday of June is Father's Day, a day to express respect and gratitude to fathers. The flowers given to fathers on Father's Day are said to be yellow roses.
The flower language of "yellow roses" is "friendship," "peace," and "devotion," as well as "infidelity," "jealousy," and "fading love." Unlike other colors, yellow flowers often have both good and bad meanings, or negative meanings, so when giving them as a gift, it's a good idea to pay attention to the combination with other flowers.

Giving seasonal flowers as a gift is a great way for both the giver and the recipient to enjoy the beauty of that season.

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The beginning of summer is expressed in the 72 seasonal divisions as follows:

Early summer is when frogs start croaking, earthworms crawl out, and bamboo shoots sprout.
(The bamboo in "take-sansei" is thought to be made from madake bamboo.)

First Sign: Frogs start croaking

Frogs waking up from hibernation in early spring
This is the time when they become active in the fields and rice paddies, and their cries begin to echo throughout the surrounding area.

Next sign: Earthworm emergence

This is the time when vegetation grows lush, plant activity becomes active, earthworms become active, the soil is cultivated, and it becomes rich.

　

Last Season <Bamboo shoots growing>

Bamboo shoots grow quickly, so if you don't harvest them before they get too long, you won't be able to enjoy their delicious taste.
After it rains, bamboo shoots appear one after another and grow rapidly overnight, so the phrase "bamboo shoots after the rain" is used as an analogy for similar things appearing one after the other.

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With the many events that come with spring and the recent Golden Week, it may finally be time to calm down. Foods that are in season in early summer are rich in nutrients. Let's be grateful for the blessings of nature and prepare for the coming heat.