After a busy April, the people of Japan are finally going back to their houses. The Sakura, or cherry blossom BLOOM is over. It started in late March when hordes of people in southern Japan enclosed the parks with a party presence, then it inched its way up toward northern Japan as April came and countinued to tick away.
Now, as April is terminated all that can be seen are the remnants of cherry blossoms being stomped over by passerbyers. The blossoms are replaced by the greenery of a normal-appearing tree. With the bloom also went the day-time light-hearted parties.
Empty cans of Asahi beer, countless wine bottles, and bento lunch boxes are amid the flotsam of signs that marked the annual gleeful occasion. What is the hype behind the cherry blossom yearly viewing event?
Long ago, flower viewing -- hanami -- referred to celebrating the coming of spring. It was customary to perform ceremonies prior to the beginning of planting, forecasting the harvest for the year from the condition of the cherry blossoms. Then, comparing the cherry trees in full bloom to a bumper harvest of rice, they would celebrate with food and drink under the trees. In those days it was a tradition observed only by the nobility and upper classes.
From medieval times, the way cherry petals fall at the height of their beauty had symbolism both in the warrior code and in Buddhism. Soon the cherry blossoms became an expression of the samurai way of life. The custom of hanami spread to the warrior class and spread to commoners in the era of cultural ferment toward the end of the seventeenth century known as Genroku ( 1688 - 1704 ).
Today, warriors, samurais, commoners, friends, workmates and children alike celebrate under the blossoms.
5 comments:
It's beautiful! I wonder how many cities in the US have a Cherry Blossom Festival besides DC? The pictures are GREAT! GOOD JOB - GINO!!
Danielle,
Thanks for including me on your Blog, I have been enjoying reading your posts and learning more about you. Below is a copy of an article from the Baltimore Sun on the Cherry Tree project at our local lake. It is interesting to think about how small our world really is as ideas are easily able to move from one side of the world to the other.
'A project about giving hope'
$500 cherry-tree sponsorships support the fight against cancer
By Sandy Alexander
sun reporter
Originally published April 30, 2006
Project seeks to raise awareness, give hope
Every spring, Howard County is getting a little more pink.
To date, 639 Kwanzan cherry trees have been planted by Howard County Tourism Inc.'s Blossoms of Hope project, adding thousands of pastel petals to the landscape when the trees bloom in April.
The ultimate goal is 1,000 trees "to beautify and to beckon people to Howard County," said Rachelina Bonacci, executive director of the tourism group.
At the same time, she said, "It is a project about giving hope."
A $500 sponsorship of a tree includes 30 percent as a donation to the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource and Image Center at Howard County General Hospital. At a ceremony Friday at Centennial Park, Bonacci presented the center with a check for $15,540, raised over the past year.
Also, the county Health Department announced it will use the blossoms as a symbol for its free breast cancer screening program next month.
The department will offer free, half-day, walk-in clinics at Howard County libraries on six days next month. And Howard County General Hospital will offer $50 mammograms next month for women to follow up their clinical exam.
Visually, the blossoming trees will serve "as a little nudge to women," said County Executive James N. Robey. "When the trees are blossoming, it is time to take action ... and get an exam."
The Blossoms of Hope program has grown quickly since 20 inaugural trees were planted at Centennial Park along Route 108 in Ellicott City in November 2004.
Individuals and businesses have sponsored trees at county parks, libraries, community centers and historic sites. Corporate sponsors have put the trees on private property throughout the county. And the state highway department used Kwanzan cherry trees at the request of the tourism council for its plantings along Interstate 70, U.S. 40 and Route 100.
The Columbia Association recently agreed to plant 65 of the trees on its properties, including nine that have been drawing attention at Symphony Woods in Columbia.
And while the trees are rooted in Howard County, about 45 supporters in bright pink T-shirts traveled to Washington this month to lead three 15-foot-tall, inflated cherry blossoms through the rain in the National Cherry Blossom Festival parade.
Barbara Michels of Columbia told those gathered Friday that the efforts are appreciated.
A 10-year breast cancer survivor, she said she was "surrounded by a cocoon of hope and caring" at the Claudia Mayer center when her cancer returned three years ago.
When clumps of hair fell out in the shower, she said, she called the center and was told to come over.
"I left there with a wig, hats and chemo caps," she said. "My new look gave me an attitude, and that's what a cancer survivor needs."
Other families were at the event to remember people who did not survive.
Marilyn Yetso's five children and her husband sponsored a tree in Centennial park in her memory. The 57-year-old Columbia resident died of colon cancer six years ago.
"We've been meaning to do something here to commemorate her life and to support the county," said Marilyn's son, Brock Yetso.
He said he appreciated the Mayer center's help when his family was dealing with cancer. And, he noted, Centennial Park "is a beautiful place."
Arleen McGreevy said a tree - sponsored by her family - was a fitting memorial to her husband, Fred J. McGreevy because "we used to come to the park all the time. ... I know my husband would enjoy it."
She said the family was interested as soon as they heard about the project after McGreevy died of complications from diabetes a year ago.
"He loved natural beauty," she said.
Information about the Blossoms of Hope project is available at www.visithowardcounty.com, or 410-313-1900. The county's free breast cancer screenings will be held at the east Columbia library May 8 (9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and May 15 (1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.), at the Elkridge library May 9 and 17 (9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days), and at the central library May 12 and 18 (1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days). Information on Howard General Hospital's $50 mam- mograms: 410-740-7900.
Hello,Danielle!
Finally I can comment on your blog!
I'm so sorry that I couldn't contact you and Gino.
And I've just send e-mail to both of you, so I hope you'll read it.
Anyway, I really enjoy your excellent writing!
I'm looking forward to seeing both of you in the near future! Matane!
andy -- thanks for the article... small things do spread quickly around the world.
Kayo - we got your email and are so excited to have you come visit!
mom - way to be the first to comment again..... gino is a good photographer, isn't he!
tell us about the camping trip :)
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