Cherry Blossom Festivals: A Global Celebration of Spring and Renewal
It is that time of year again where the signs of spring are popping up. We can hear the birds singing their beautiful songs, the days get longer, and new growth appears through the wintered soil.
Spring is welcomed and embraced with many festivals that celebrate family and rebirth. Flower festivals have become a cornerstone for many cultures including the Tulip festival in the Netherlands, the Madeira Flower festival in Portugal and Cherry Blossom festivals around the world.
I have often wondered about the rise in popularity of Cherry Blossom and other flower festivals over the last few years and have come to the conclusion that in the shadow of the pandemic and everything going on in the world, these beautiful flowers show us life and beauty that rises up.
The Cherry Blossom festivals of Japan, Washington D.C., Toronto and Vancouver, Canada have garnered Instagram-worthy attention attracting millions of tourists to each city. So, then I dug a little deeper about the humble cherry blossom.
Their beautiful pink and white blooms make a fleeting appearance of just two weeks in spring. In Japan they are a symbol of Cherry Blossom are called Sakura and are one of the most beloved signs of spring, symbolizing beauty, renewal, and the fleeting nature of life.
Mention of the Cherry Blossom dates back to 712 to 1185 BC and its beauty was woven into art, decorating, food and poetry. It was not until the mid nineteenth century that the Cherry Blossom became fully embedded in Japanese culture. Its symbolism is beauty in impermanence, new beginnings and peace and friendship. In fact in the early twentieth century that Japan gifted cherry blossoms to Washington, DC, Paris, Stockholm and Vancouver as signs of enduring friendship.
Many countries now have published bloom watches to alert potential festival goers to when peak bloom may occur. The following links will take you to different bloom watches:
Toronto - https://highparknaturecentre.com/cherry-blossom-watch/
Vancouver -https://vcbf.ca/blooming-now/
And if you are unable to make it to any of the cherry blossom festivals Casa Betina has both candles and room spray in a soft and calming Lemon Cherry Blossom scent.