Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally “Month One”, February is “Month Two”, etc:
一月 = January
二月 = February
However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the French Revolutionary calendar).
April is 卯月.
月
Japanese learners will recognise the kanji 月 as “moon” or “month”.
卯
The first kanji is less common. It is most often used to represent the Sign of the Rabbit in East Asian Horoscopes, and the Year of the Rabbit uses this sign too.
So what is the connection between April and rabbits?
Of course in Western countries there’s the familiar symbol of the Easter Bunny, and in springtime hares can be seen racing around the fields (the famous “mad March hare”).
Unfortunately 卯 might not refer to rabbits at all. It is believed that this kanji was originally 植, which has the same sound. 植 is the kanji for “planting”and refers to rice planning, an important event carried out every spring throughout Japan.
Calligraphy by Vicky 