17th January – 睦月

松竹梅　（Shou-Chiku-Bai)

Pine tree, bamboo and plum – the lucky symbols in Japan

Have you ever seen those symbols in Japan?

Probably you have! Not only for celebration, many shops such as Soba shops, Sushi shops use shou-chiku-bai to categorise memu. All 3 symbols are equally fortunate but in order to make difference in menu, shops put those signs as premium (松) – high (竹) – average (梅) quality. BUT! because most shops put this category, some shops reverse the order to average (松) – high (竹) – premium (梅) in order not to be snobbish or shaming when they order. Japanese put a huge importance on what others think about themselves…Complicated!

Reason why those plants are considered as the sign of luck

松　（Shou / Matsu）

It is evergreen tree and it does not wither even in winter, keeping the great figure. – leads the image of long strong life. Pine trees have been considered as the tree where gods come down to the ground. Therefore it is believed as sacred tree.

竹　(Chiku / Take)

Bamboo grows very fast and it hardly breaks – symbol of growing and vitality.

Japanese have believed that gods dwell in the things with holes inside. It applies to the ancient story of Princess Kaguya (she dwelled inside the bamboo and grew up very beautiful, she was actually from the moon).

梅　（Bai / Ume）

Even the age of tree is hundreds and it has a lot moss, Plum tree blooms earlier than the other trees and the scent from the beautiful flower is noble – the symbol of long life and nobility.