Kimono Seasons
Yukata Kimonos
Originally, “kimono” was the Japanese word for clothing. But in the early 1900s, as western fashions became a part of Japanese society, the term came to mean only the traditional form of clothing. Today, kimonos are only worn on special occasions such as weddings, funerals, tea ceremonies, summer festivals and visits to the temple. Handed down from one generation to the next, kimonos are treasured family heirlooms and beautiful works of art.
Because the seasons are so intense in Japan, there are different kimonos for each season.
Summer in Japan is very hot and humid. A yukata, or light cotton kimono worn with a narrow obi, is ideal for summer festivals or for relaxing at home. The colors used in summer are meant to suggest water and most yukata are navy blue and white. Just remember to wear the yukata with the left side over the right because the other way around is traditionally used to dress bodies for burial.
Spring and autumn are more comfortable and it is easier to wear silk and other fabrics. The flowers of the season are used to decorate the kimonos. Plum blossoms might be embroidered on a spring kimono while chrysanthemums would be a common motif for the fall.
Winter kimonos are embellished with good luck symbols such as pine trees and bamboo. A thickly padded over-kimono acts like a robe to keep the bitter cold of a Japanese winter at bay. Heavy coats designed to allow for the long sleeves of a kimono are worn when outdoors.
