The 3rd of the 24 solar terms: "Keichitsu"
It's the time when insects that have been hibernating for winter start crawling out as they feel the warmth of spring.
"Kei" means "to open, to dawn," and "chitsu" means "insects hibernating underground."With each rain, the temperature rises, new buds appear in the fields and mountains, and the sunlight gradually gets warmer.
Wild vegetables and other spring vegetables begin to appear in supermarkets and greengrocers.
Enjoy the arrival of spring with seasonal ingredients.
Now let us introduce some events that take place around the time of Keichitsu .
1. Komohazushi (removal of straw mats)
Komo refers to a mat made from straw.
Every year, in early winter in November, people across the country take part in the "Komomaki" ceremony, in which straw mats are wrapped around the trunks of pine trees and other trees. "Komomaki" is a traditional method of pest control that takes advantage of the tendency of pine bark beetles and pine moths, natural enemies of pine trees, to hibernate there in winter.
When it gets cold, the insects hide in the straw mats to pass the winter. Then, around the time of the awakening of insects, when they start to come out, the straw mats are removed and the pests that have been hibernating inside are exterminated.
"Komomaki" is in early winter, and "Komohazushi" is in mid-spring. Each is known as a seasonal feature.
The winter scenery of rows of pine trees covered in straw will disappear!?
"Komomaki" is a method of pest control that has been passed down since the Edo period, but research has shown that it is not very effective in practice, and that it only attracts other beneficial insects. Nowadays, it is often practiced as a part of the winter scenery.
However, wrapping the entire tree in komo (rice straw) is not for pest control, but to protect evergreen trees that are weak to the cold, to prevent branches from breaking under the weight of snow, and to prevent leaves from discoloring, among other things, so komo wrapping is still an important event today.
2. Shunie
The Omizutori Ceremony at Todaiji Temple's Nigatsudo Hall ushers in spring in Nara
This is a Buddhist ceremony held every year from March 1st to 14th at the Nigatsudo Hall of Todaiji Temple in Nara City.The climax of the festival, Omizutori , is also another name for Shunie.
Shunie is a memorial service held every year in February of the lunar calendar to cleanse the impurities of the past year and pray for peace and abundance for the nation in the new year.
Eleven selected monks, known as the Rengyoshu, perform a ceremony to repeatedly praise and worship the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva, confess any sins on behalf of the people, and pray for peace and prosperity of the nation and bountiful harvests .
During the procession, late at night on March 12th (around 1:30 am on the 13th), a ceremony called "Omizutori" is held to draw water from a well called Wakasai to be offered to the Kannon. Every night, large torches are lit to light the way for the monks who are carrying out this procession.
Because of its impressive appearance , Shunie is commonly known as Omizutori or Otamatsu .
It is believed that being bathed in the sparks from the torches will bring you happiness and health, and many people take the ashes home as talismans.
This memorial service is said to have been held continuously since its founding in 752 by Priest Jitsuchu, a disciple of Priest Roben, the founder of Todaiji Temple, and will mark its 1,272nd anniversary in 2023.
3. White Day
Originating in Japan! "White Day" born from the culture of giving back
White Day is March 14th, one month after Valentine's Day.
It is the day when men who received chocolates on Valentine's Day return the favor by giving candy, marshmallows, etc. to women.
On Valentine's Day, in addition to giving chocolate to loved ones, people also give chocolate to friends and as a token of appreciation, so on White Day it is common for people, regardless of gender, to give "return gifts" to those who have given them chocolate.
In the first place, Valentine's Day is a culture that was introduced from overseas, but the standard gift of chocolate is a uniquely Japanese culture.
In the West, it is often defined as "the day for men to express their love and gratitude to their wives or girlfriends," and it is common to prepare gifts such as bouquets of flowers (especially red roses) along with message cards containing words of love, and eat meals at a restaurant or at home. In addition, it seems that gifts are often given not only to loved ones or partners, but also to people who have taken care of you on a daily basis and to family members.
In Japan, Valentine's Day and White Day are considered a set, but there is no White Day in the West. It is said that White Day was born from the deep-rooted Japanese culture of giving something in return, such as "uchigai" (celebration for a loved one) and "kodengaeshi" (return gift for a funeral). It is a custom that is only seen in East Asian countries such as Korea and Taiwan.
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The 72 seasonal phases around the time of Keichitsu are expressed as follows:
First Season 7th Season
＜Opening the door to hibernation＞
When hibernating creatures emerge from the earth in search of spring sunshine
The first term, Hatsuhou, has the same meaning as "Kichitsu", one of the 24 solar terms.
Attracted by the warm spring weather, insects start to crawl out of the soil.
The image of the insects crawling out of the soil is likened to "opening a door," and they can be seen basking in the warm sunlight.
Next Phase 8th Phase
＜Peach begins to laugh＞
When peach buds begin to open and flowers begin to bloom
In the past, the blooming of flowers was described as "laughing."
"The mountains are smiling" is a spring seasonal word that describes the gorgeous mountains as they begin to sprout new leaves.
Last sign 9th sign
＜The caterpillar turns into a butterfly＞
This is the time when the chrysalis that survived the harsh winter emerges from its cocoon and is reborn as a gorgeous butterfly, fluttering lightly in the air.
