also: じょげつ · きぬさらぎ
noun
second month of the lunar calendar
Obsolete term for the second month of the old lunar calendar, roughly corresponding to late February to early April in the modern calendar. Used in historical contexts or traditional poetry.
如月は旧暦の二月を指す。
Kisaragi refers to the second month of the lunar calendar.
Poetic or literary name for February, used in haiku, tanka, and other traditional poetry. Not used in everyday conversation.
如月の空に梅の花が映える。
Plum blossoms stand out against the February sky.
Ateji spelling based on the folk etymology of layering clothes against the cold; rarely used.
Alternate reading for the ateji form; very rare.
Alternate ateji spelling; very rare.
The origin of きさらぎ is uncertain. One common theory is that it derives from 衣更着 (きぬさらぎ), meaning 'to wear more layers of clothing' because of the lingering cold. The kanji 如月 is a Chinese-derived name for the second lunar month.