松竹梅 (しょうちくばい) Shochikubai

松　(まつ) - Pine Tree
竹　(たけ) - Bamboo
梅　(梅) - Plum Tree

Putting the names of these three kinds of trees together makes the phrase shochikubai, a symbolic expression of auspicious mattes. These plants are highly valued in winter because they are strong againts the cold, and they are used as felicitous decorations for celebratory events, as with the New Years's pine and bamboo decorations or at weddings. The pine, as the tree that stands for Japan, is often drawn in the background of Japanese paintings. The bamboo is used as raw material for handicrafts and flutes. The plum tree is not only enjoyed for its flowers, but its fruit is used for food, in medicine, and, since ancient times, as an important preserved food.