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National Haiku Writing Month, or NaHaiWriMo, inspires poets and wordsmiths throughout February to engage with the elegant Japanese form. This annual event challenges participants to write a haiku every day, honing their skills in brevity and imagery. Dive into the world of 5-7-5, explore new themes, and share your poetic voice.
Want to sponsor National Haiku Writing Month? Learn how
Expected National Haiku Writing Month Deals
Throughout National Haiku Writing Month, look for literary organizations and retailers to offer inspiring, month-long promotions. While official 2027 deals are still emerging, history shows that platforms like NaHaiWriMo itself often host daily prompts and challenges, encouraging consistent writing. Bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and independent shops may feature curated poetry collections and host local open mic nights. Online writing communities like Poets & Writers could offer virtual workshops on haiku craft or special themed reading events. Educational apps like Duolingo might highlight Japanese language courses to deepen understanding of haiku’s origins, and literary journals could open special submission periods for haiku. Expect discounts on writing guides and journals from retailers like Amazon and Target. We will update this page with confirmed live deals and events as February approaches.
Platform Guide for National Haiku Writing Month
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NaHaiWriMo. Share your haiku visually with accompanying photos or art, inviting followers to guess the theme.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NaHaiWriMo. Post your daily haiku, engage with prompts, and join poetic threads for real-time interaction.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NaHaiWriMo. Join haiku writing groups and share your work for feedback and community support.
National Haiku Writing Month Hero
Matsuo Bashō
History of National Haiku Writing Month
The term ‘haiku’ is formed from the ‘hai’ in ‘haikai’ (a comedic style of renga, or linked-verse poetry) and the ‘ku’ in ‘hokku’ (the first renga stanza). The hokku, which established the tone for a renga, requires the description of the season, the hour of the day, and the main aspects of the landscape in its three lines, creating virtually independent poetry.
The haiku first appeared in Japanese literature in the early 1600s as a succinct response to more intricate poetry traditions, though it was not given the name “haiku” until the mid-1800s.
The hokku (also known as ‘haikai’) became recognized as the haiku in the late 1800s as it lost its primary function of starting a succession of verses. Today, the word ‘haiku’ refers to any poem with a three-line, 17-syllable pattern, including the earlier version of hokku.
Originally, the subject matter of the haiku was limited to an objective depiction of nature, reminiscent of a season, and provoking a strong, though unspoken, emotive reaction. When the haiku master, Bashō, transformed the hokku into a sophisticated and deliberate art form in the early years of the Tokugawa period from 1603 to 1867, the style gained prominence. While in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) in the 1670s, he began producing what was termed a “new type” of poetry.
Bashō went on to tour Japan, and his experiences inspired him to write poetry. His haiku appealed to a wide range of people in Japan, and its popularity helped shape the form as Japan’s most popular form of poetry.
Following Bashō, and especially after the revival of the haiku in the mid-1800s, the haiku’s subject range broadened beyond nature. The haiku, on the other hand, remains an art of conveying a lot and implying a lot with the least number of words.
The term haiku also applies to poems composed in the haiku format or a variation of it in languages other than Japanese. The Imagists’ haiku were highly prominent in English throughout the 1900s. The popularity of the form grew outside of Japan quite rapidly post-WWII and is now composed in several languages.
National Haiku Writing Month timeline
The haiku appears in Japanese literature for the first time.
The ‘hokku’ is renamed the ‘haiku.’
The haiku poetry style gains popularity with the contributions of celebrated poet Bashō.
Haikus that are written by Imagists in English gain popularity.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Haiku Writing Month
Local businesses can engage with National Haiku Writing Month by hosting creative events throughout February. Bookstores can set up ‘Haiku Corners’ with prompts and featured poetry collections, while coffee shops might offer discounts to patrons who share a haiku at the counter. Writing centers and libraries can organize workshops or readings, inviting local poets to share their work. Even non-literary businesses can create haiku-themed social media campaigns or display customer-submitted haiku.
National Haiku Writing Month FAQs
When is National Haiku Writing Month?
In 2027, National Haiku Writing Month is observed all through February, from the 1st to the 28th. This annual event invites poets and enthusiasts to explore the beauty of 5-7-5 syllable structure.
What is the origin of haiku?
The roots of haiku lie in Japanese poetry, specifically developing from the hokku, the opening stanza of a linked verse poem called renga. Its distinct 5-7-5 syllable pattern became a standalone art form.
How many syllables are in a haiku?
The classic structure of a haiku is 17 syllables, broken into three lines with a 5-7-5 pattern. This concise form challenges writers to convey vivid imagery and profound meaning within strict constraints.
Is National Haiku Writing Month a global event?
Although its formal designation is in the U.S., the spirit of National Haiku Writing Month resonates internationally. The global haiku community actively engages in writing and appreciation throughout February, transcending national borders.
National Haiku Writing Month Activities
Write a haiku
Write a haiku every day in February to celebrate. Put your creativity to the test and challenge others to participate.
Teach someone
Are you already a pro at writing haikus? Then why not teach someone how to express themselves through poetry.
Read a haiku
Read the amazing work of haiku masters. There are several popular works by celebrated poets including Maya Angelou, T.S. Eliot, and William Blake.
5 Facts About Poetry That Will Blow Your Mind
Who’s laughing now?
E. E. Cummings’ self-published book, “No Thanks,” was dedicated to the publishers who turned it down.
Unfriended
The term ‘unfriend’ was introduced in 1275 by Layamon in his medieval poem ‘Brut.’
Origins
The term ‘syphilis’ was coined from the name of a character in Girolamo Fracastoro’s 1530 poem.
Dark fantasy
Alan Seeger’s poem ‘I Have a Rendezvous with Death’ was a favorite of John F. Kennedy’s.
Ghosts of poets past
Lizzie Dolton claimed that Edgar Allan Poe’s ghost provided several poems included in her 1863 publication, “Poems from the Inner Life.”
Why We Love National Haiku Writing Month
Haikus are easy to learn
Although they carry a deep meaning, haikus are typically short. This makes the poetry form easier to learn compared to the other types.
Poetry is a creative outlet
We all struggle to express ourselves in one way or another. Poetry is an excellent medium to put thoughts and emotions into words, bringing them to life.
We get to read and write more
National Haiku Writing Month is the perfect excuse to get some much-needed reading time. It also encourages budding writers to practice and hone their craft.
National Haiku Writing Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | February 1 | Monday |
| 2028 | February 1 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | February 1 | Thursday |
| 2030 | February 1 | Friday |
| 2031 | February 1 | Saturday |
Social Media Tips for National Haiku Writing Month
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