Tuesday 15 June 2010

Seasons in Japan the "Summer"

In Japan the month of June is called “Minazuki” that means “The month where the water runs dry” because of the big heat. Also in June, rice plantations are at their peaks and trees are green and thick.

In June it is also the start of the “Rainy Season”, it starts in the middle of the month to finish in mid July. Rainy season bring a lot of rain and a give very humid period of time for everyone.



Do you know that Nyuubai is the day which starts the rainy season and it is called “Tsuyu”?

From all time the rainy season always starts around middle of June, but as you may know the time differ each year by region and by all climatic changes.

During the rainy season children of Japan do some traditional paper dolls called “Teruteru-bozu” to pray for good weather.



The teruteru-bozu is made out of white paper or fabrics.
The tradition about the teruteru-bozu is to hang it the window with a string heads up for a fine and sunny day and head down to have some rain.

Even today this tradition is still observed by children before outside event they hang their teruteru-bozu at windows and chant a prayer.

Here is English version of the Chant:

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
Like the sky in a dream sometime
If it's sunny I'll give you a golden bell

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
If you make my wish come true
We'll drink lots of sweet rice wine

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
But if the clouds are crying (it's raining)
Then I shall snip your head off


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