4 The Japanese Floral Calendar. 



("While busy decorating the pines at the gate, the dawn of the 

 New Year speedily comes.") 



"Haru ni aeru 

 Kono kado-matsu wo 

 Wakeki tsutsu 

 Ware mo chiyo hen 

 Uchi ni iri-nuru." 



("Passing through the pine-gate that has met the spring so gay, 

 I too have entered into the life of endless years.") 1 



THE NEW YEAR S DECORATIONS WITH SHIMENAWA, ETC. 

 Two girls playing at battledore and shuttlecock, and the little one with a ball. 



The pines in front of the gate are placed in pairs : the 

 rougher and more prickly one, called the male, on the left, 

 which is the side of honor in Japan; the softer and more 

 graceful one, called the female, on the right. The custom 

 of adding bamboos is of more recent origin. This custom 



1 From The Far East. 



