" Pine, bamboo and Japanese plum tree "

　

Pine, bamboo and Japanese plum tree (Ume in Japanese) are the symbolical auspicious plants in Japan and we generally decorate them all together. Each of them has its own meaning. Pine has a meaning to celebrate long life, "wishing an eternal prosperous life as pines are evergreen." (Because pine leaves don't fall and stay green even in cold winter.) Bamboo shows purity so that it means "constancy" or "faithfulness" and also "growth" and "gentleness" because it grows upright. As for Japanese plum tree, plum blossoms start blooming in the early spring and it shows "good luck will come soon" and also, it bears a lot of fruits so that it shows "prosperity" as well. For these reasons, they are the plants which are decorated often for "New Year" and "wedding" in Japan. They are often used and designed for bridal Kimonos for wedding. This is a New Year decoration I made. translated by CHIE KATAYAMA