66 The Japanese Floral Calendar. 



In this monthly calendar of Floral Japan, we have not 

 attempted to include all the flowers as in a botanical cata- 

 logue; we have merely made a selection of certain typical 

 hana, to represent the floral year. But we must surely 

 make at least mention of the fete-days (en-nichi), which 

 are really flower-fairs, held once, twice, or thrice a month, 

 according to circumstances, chiefly in the evening. The 

 roadways are lined with flower-sellers and dealers in var- 

 ious other articles, which are displayed either on mats, or 

 on carts, or in booths hastily constructed. On these occa- 

 sions it is possible, after parleying with the seller, 3 to buy 

 flowers for a very reasonable sum. 



And now we may be able to appreciate how much the 

 floral kingdom of Japan means to the Japanese. Huish has 

 well expressed it as follows : "Flowers are associated with 

 every act of a Japanese's life: they herald his birth, they 

 are his daily companions, they accompany him to the grave ; 

 and after that they serve as a link between him and those 

 he has left, for his relatives and friends do not rest satis- 

 fied with piling up his coffin with floral tributes, they show 

 their remembrance by offerings for long years after- 

 wards." 4 



8 The first price is exorbitant and proverbial : "Charge like a florist at a 

 festival." 



4 In the very interesting chapter on "Flora and Flower Festivals" in his 

 book entitled Japan and Its Art. 



