7th of the 24 Solar Terms: Rikka (Beginning of Summer)
The beginning of summer.
A season when the earth is covered in grass and trees flourish.
Under the blue sky, carp streamers gracefully swim in the refreshing breeze.
The Rikka period is said to be the most comfortable season of the year.
As the kanji for "Rikka" (立夏) literally means "summer stands," it signifies "the time when signs of summer begin to appear." The character "Ritsu" (立) indicates the start of a new season, and on the calendar, summer extends from Rikka until the day before Risshu (Beginning of Autumn).
Now, let's introduce the events around early summer (Rikka).
【Events around Rikka】
・Children's Day/Tango no Sekku (May 5th)
・Mother's Day (May 14th)
Food for Tango no Sekku
While chimaki (rice dumplings) and kashiwa mochi (rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves) are widely known as celebratory foods for Tango no Sekku and seasonal treats, some people might wonder which one to prepare.
◆Origin of Chimaki◆
Chimaki originates from a Chinese legend.
About 2,300 years ago in China, there lived a poet named Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan, also a talented statesman, served as a close aide to the king and was deeply admired by the people for his integrity and strong devotion to his country. However, he was unjustly slandered and banished from the country.
His long epic poem "Li Sao," which expressed his feelings at that time, became a masterpiece of Chinese literature. Disheartened by the future of his country, Qu Yuan threw himself into a river. That day was May 5th.
The people mourned Qu Yuan's death and on the anniversary, offered sacrifices by throwing food into the river. However, the offerings were stolen by an evil dragon before they could reach Qu Yuan. So, people wrapped sticky rice in leaves of the renju tree (which dragons disliked, though some say it was miscanthus or bamboo grass leaves) and tied them with five-colored threads (red, blue, yellow, white, and black) to ward off evil spirits, then threw them into the river. This time, they successfully reached Qu Yuan.
This was the origin of chimaki. The custom of making chimaki on May 5th to ward off disaster was introduced to Japan. Furthermore, the five-colored threads (red, blue, yellow, white, and black) tied to chimaki (derived from the Yin-Yang and Five Elements philosophy) represent a charm for children's healthy growth and are reflected in the streamers of carp streamers.
◆Origin of Kashiwa Mochi◆
While chimaki came from China, kashiwa mochi is uniquely Japanese and originated in Edo during the Edo period. The kashiwa (oak) leaves that wrap kashiwa mochi have long been considered sacred trees (because old leaves do not fall until new buds appear, it was believed that gods resided there; the leaves have a pleasant fragrance and are used to ward off evil spirits). Also, the characteristic that old leaves do not fall until new buds appear the following year led to associations with "unbroken lineage" and "family prosperity," making it an auspicious food for Tango no Sekku.
Thus, chimaki and kashiwa mochi, foods for Tango no Sekku, each have their own origins. Kashiwa mochi spread throughout the country, reflecting Edo culture, while chimaki traditions were preserved in Kyoto culture, which valued tradition. Even today, kashiwa mochi is popular in the Kanto region, while chimaki is favored in the Kansai region.
Otaue Shinji (Rice-Planting Ritual)
Rikka marks the beginning of rice planting and also precedes the rainy season.
In some regions, festivals are held to pray for a bountiful harvest. Women and children, after receiving purification, plant rice and dance to pray for a good harvest.
Mother's Day
"A day to express gratitude to mothers," Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May each year. On Mother's Day, it is customary to give gifts or flowers to mothers as a token of daily appreciation and respect. Additionally, while May 5th is Children's Day, the Public Holidays Act states it is "a day to respect children's personalities, wish for their happiness, and also thank mothers."
It is not only a day to pray for children's healthy growth, but also a day for children to thank their mothers for giving them life.
Therefore, Mother's Day can be interpreted as a day for families to "express gratitude to their mothers," and for mothers to share their joy with their children and family, saying "thank you for being born," for becoming a "mother."
Mother's Day and Carnations
Giving carnations on Mother's Day has long been a classic gift. The origin of this tradition lies in the fact that when a carnation withers, it does not drop its petals but instead holds them close to its center, resembling a mother embracing her child. This characteristic is believed to represent that "a mother's love never fades," and thus, carnations have been cherished as a symbol of Mother's Day.
Additionally, the flower language of carnations is "pure and deep love." It is said that carnations were chosen for Mother's Day also because of this meaning.
Each flower has its own language, and even for the same type of flower, the meaning can change depending on its color and the number of stems. Let's take a look at the flower meanings of different colored carnations!
●Classic! Vibrant "Red Carnations"●
Red carnations signify "mother's love," "pure love," and "true love." They also mean "I want to see you," making them perfect gifts for mothers who live far away.
●Deep Red●
The flower meaning of deep red carnations, such as wine red or crimson, is "sorrow of the heart." While they have a sophisticated and elegant appearance, this flower meaning is not very appropriate for a gift.
●White Carnations●
They carry both positive meanings like "pure love" and "respect," and a negative meaning of "rejection of love."
In addition, it is customary to offer white carnations at graves or Buddhist altars to "remember a deceased mother" or on Mother's Day. Some people believe they are not suitable for giving to those who are still alive. When arranging them in a bouquet, pay attention to the combinations with other flowers.
●Pink Carnations●
Pink carnations, often given on Mother's Day, have the flower meaning of "gratitude." They also mean "woman's love," "graceful gesture," "elegance," "refinement," and "warm heart." This color is perfect for a gift.
●Yellow Carnations●
Yellow carnations signify "beauty" and "friendship." However, they also have flower meanings such as "contempt" and "jealousy." Although yellow generally gives a positive impression, in flower language, it often carries negative meanings.
●Meaning of Orange Carnations●
Orange carnations mean "pure love" and also convey "I love you," making them ideal gifts not only for Mother's Day but also for romantic partners.
●Meaning of Purple Carnations●
The flower meaning of sophisticated purple carnations is "pride" and "elegance." However, they also carry negative meanings such as "whim" and "fickleness," so it might be better to combine them with other colors when giving them as a gift.
●Meaning of Blue Carnations●
The flower meaning is "eternal happiness." Blue carnations were developed through genetic modification and are named "Moondust." Varieties such as aqua blue and lilac blue exist, and in reality, they appear closer to purple than blue.
Often, colorful rainbow-colored carnations or deep blue carnations are sold, but these are white carnations dyed with colored water.
●Green Carnations●
The flower meaning of gentle green carnations is "healing" and "pure love." Green, which evokes nature, is said to provide healing and relaxation effects to people.
Give carnations in your preferred number!
There is no specific recommended number of carnations for a Mother's Day bouquet. When unsure about the number of carnations to give on Mother's Day, incorporating such sentiments might be interesting. However, unlike roses, carnations do not change their meaning based on the number given, so it's fine to choose based on your budget.
1 stem: Gratitude
2 stems: Sincerity
3 stems: Happiness
4 stems: Trust
5 stems: Hope
6 stems: Love
7 stems: Passion
8 stems: Truth
9 stems: Respect
10 stems: Glory
11 stems: Effort
12 stems: Eternity
If choosing the number of carnations for Mother's Day based on flower language:
1 stem: If you simply want to express gratitude
8 stems: To convey "thanks for your thoughtfulness"
12 stems: Recommended to convey meanings such as "gratitude," "love," "happiness," and "respect."
By the way, the third Sunday in June is Father's Day, "a day to show respect and gratitude to fathers." The flower for Father's Day is said to be a "yellow rose."
The flower meaning of "yellow rose" includes "friendship," "peace," and "devotion," but also "infidelity," "jealousy," and "fading love." Unlike other colors, yellow flowers often have both positive and negative meanings or predominantly negative meanings, so when giving them as gifts, it's good to be particular about combining them with other flowers.
Giving seasonal flowers as gifts brings joy to both the giver and the recipient, imbued with the spirit of the season.
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The "Rikka" (Beginning of Summer) is represented in the seventy-two micro-seasons as follows:
Early summer, when frogs begin to sing, earthworms emerge, and bamboo shoots sprout.
(The "bamboo shoots" in "Chikusun-shō" are thought to refer to mōsō bamboo.)
First Micro-season: Kawazu Hajimete Naku (Frogs begin to sing)
This is the time when frogs, having awoken from hibernation in early spring,
become active in fields and rice paddies, and begin to fill the surroundings with their calls.
Second Micro-season: Mimizu Izuru (Earthworms emerge)
This is the time when plants grow thick and active,earthworms become active, tilling the soil and enriching it.
Last Micro-season: Takenoko Shōzu (Bamboo shoots sprout)
Bamboo shoots grow quickly, and if they are not harvested before they grow too tall, their delicious taste will be lost.
The phrase "ugonotakenoko" (bamboo shoots after the rain) is used to describe how things appear one after another, much like bamboo shoots rapidly growing overnight after rainfall.
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After passing through a spring filled with many events, and with Golden Week recently over, this might be the time when things finally settle down. Foods that are in season during early summer are rich in nutrients. Let's appreciate nature's bounty and prepare for the coming heat.
