"From the 6th century until the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, Japan used a variation of the lunisolar Chinese calendar that was divided into 24 seasons. These mini-seasons were determined by the phases of the moon, the rise of the tides, and other natural phenomena. Living in constant contact with their surroundings – the mountains, the ocean, and their all-important rice fields - people were acutely aware of even the smallest changes in their environment and often celebrated them with "matsuri" (festivals).
For example, at the beginning of February is "Risshun." It’s associated with the ground thawing and fish appearing under the ice. This is followed by "Usui" in mid-February when the snow begins to recede and a mystical mist lingers in the air, then by "keichitsu" when bugs surface from hibernation around the beginning of March. Then comes "shunbun" when sparrows start to nest, and the symbolic cherry blossoms begin to bloom. They begin their northerly march up the country around
