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
Harumachizuki is an elegant term for the twelfth month of the old lunar calendar.
Around the time of the twelfth lunar month, one can feel signs of spring even in the cold.
Standard kanji spelling for the poetic name of the twelfth lunar month.
Variant spelling with okurigana ち, also seen in poetic contexts.
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.