noun
twelfth lunar month; month of waiting for spring
Poetic name for the twelfth month of the old lunar calendar, roughly corresponding to late December to early January. The name evokes the feeling of eagerly awaiting spring. Compare with 師走 (しわす), the more common name for the same month.
See also: 師走
春待月は、旧暦の十二月を指す雅語です。
Harumachizuki is an elegant term for the twelfth month of the old lunar calendar.
春待月の頃になると、寒さの中にも春の気配を感じる。
Around the time of the twelfth lunar month, one can feel signs of spring even in the cold.
師走 is the common, everyday name for the twelfth lunar month, while 春待月 is a poetic, literary alternative.
From 春 (はる, 'spring') + 待ち (まち, 'waiting') + 月 (づき, 'month'), literally 'the month of waiting for spring'. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a traditional poetic name for the last month of the lunar year.