Yukatas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A traditional Japanese garment typically worn during the summer, often made of cotton and featuring vibrant colors and patterns
2. A casual kimono-like robe commonly adorned at festivals or hot springs, characterized by its lightweight fabric and relaxed fit
3. A type of informal Japanese clothing, usually associated with warm weather and cultural events, often tied with an obi belt for a stylish look

Etymology: Yukata is a Japanese word, written 浴衣 and read as a compound of "yu" (湯, hot water or bath) and "katabira" (帷子, an unlined garment of plain cloth). The name therefore points to its original purpose: a light, unlined garment worn after bathing. It was once the simple cotton garment that people put on when leaving the bath house in the Edo period, before the robe moved out to festivals and summer evenings. The "ka" in "katabira" comes from "katabira" itself, an older Japanese word for a plain, unlined robe, and the compound is an entirely native Japanese formation rather than a loanword. Because the term describes the robe's function rather than its fabric, it has stayed in use even as the cloth and styling have changed. Yukata are still worn at summer fireworks festivals and at hot-spring inns, where guests often receive one to wear around the grounds.