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Cherry Blossom Season
"🎶 Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In fields, mountains and villages
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the rising sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom. "
~ Translation of "Sakura, Sakura"
Cherry blossom season is arriving early this year! If not in your immediate area, hopefully soon! 🌸
“Sakura Sakura” (さくら さくら, "Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms") is a beloved traditional Japanese folk song that celebrates the arrival of spring through the beauty of cherry blossoms. Every year, the first bloom of sakura is eagerly anticipated and closely followed throughout Japan and beyond.
The colors in this tartan are inspired by the natural beauty of cherry blossoms. Pink symbolizes the Kawazu Zakura, one of the most iconic and early-blooming varieties of sakura. Green reflects the fresh leaves that emerge after the blossoms fall, while blue represents the sky and white evokes drifting springtime clouds.
Kawazu Zakura trees are particularly special for their early and long-lasting bloom—unlike many cherry trees that shed their petals quickly, Kawazu blossoms last nearly a full month. This unique variety began with a single sapling, discovered by chance and lovingly cultivated in the town of Kawazu in 1955.💗 🤍 💙 💚 💗 🌸 🌸 🌸
It's the season for Cherry Blossom festivals in Japan, and in many other places around the world.
This is one of a set of four tartans in 'The Four Seasons' collection by designer David McGill, created in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first treaty between Japan and the UK (1858) and the arrival of Thomas Blake Glover, the Scottish Samurai, in Nagasaki (1859).
The sakura (cherry blossom in Japanese) tartan represents Spring.
Hanami (花見?, lit. "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers, flowers ("hana") in this case almost always referring to those of the cherry ("sakura") or, less frequently, plum ("ume") trees.
From the end of March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan. The blossom forecast (桜前線 sakura-zensen, literally, cherry blossom front) is announced each year by the weather bureau, and is watched carefully by those planning hanami as the blossoms only last a week or two.
For a beautiful gallery of cherry blossom photos from Japan, click the blossoming trees.
And to find the dates and locations of cherry blossom festivals in your area for your own hanami, click here.