Enums usage. From Java 7, Strings are also supported.

Enums.java

// declaration
public enum Season {
    SPRING("Spring"), SUMMER("Summer"), FALL("Fall"), WINTER("Winter");

    private String name;

    Season(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }
}

// sample usage
public void printSeason(Season season) {
    System.out.println("It is " + season.getName() + " now!");
}


// overriding toString() example
public enum Currency {
    ........ 
        @Override 
        public String toString() {
        switch (this) {
            case PENNY: System.out.println("Penny: " + value); break; 
            case NICKLE: System.out.println("Nickle: " + value); break; 
            case DIME: System.out.println("Dime: " + value); break; 
            case QUARTER: System.out.println("Quarter: " + value); } 
        return super.toString(); }
};