Today I want to share with you all the beauty of our nation's very own Cherry Blossom Festival!
In 1912, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan gifted the city of Washington, D.C. 3000 cherry trees in celebration and honor of the two countries' friendship. Through mutual effort from both American and Japanese agriculturists, the voyage of the trees was successful. Then, "in a simple ceremony on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees from Japan on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park."
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I had the pleasure of visiting Washington D.C. earlier this March where we saw a few early blooms, like the one above. Cherry Blossoms themselves come in different shades, from bright pink to white. In Japan, celebrating the bloom of the cherry blossom trees is a Spring tradition, called "hanami". It often involves picnics, outdoor markets and lots of picture taking!
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In the United States, the tradition began in 1927 when schoolchildren would reenact the gift-giving. In 1935, Civic groups expanded the notion into festivities. 2012 marked the 100 year anniversary of the gift, and the capital celebrated with a 5 week long festival. Today, the festival spans 4 weeks and welcomes more then 1.5 million eager visitors to usher in the Spring season!
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All information in this post comes from the National Cherry Blossom Festival Official Website 😊
I went to college in DC, Trinity Washington University. I was on crew and we would row past Hains Point when the cherry blossom trees were in bloom, I love that memory.
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