Cherry Blossom Parties

Every spring, millions of cherry trees (or sakura) come to life.  The different shades of pink and white flowers can be seen as far as the eye can see, a bright touch of color in the middle of the usual green landscape.  It reminds me of the inspiration poster that tells you to be unique or an individual and shows a single yellow flower surrounded by a sea of red flowers.

The sad thing about sakura trees is that their beautiful blossoms don't last for long.  Within a week or so of their blooming, they will fall off of the trees in a storm of pink and white petals.

Since the beauty doesn't last long, people take time out to go and sit under the trees, usually with a picnic and some alcoholic beverages.  Apparently this practice (known has hanami, or flower viewing) started in China and has since become very popular in Japan.  Hanami is so popular in Japan that it's almost like a holiday season.

In Canada, or America, when the next upcoming holiday approaches, the stores are filled with items for that holiday and everything and anything comes out with holiday versions in order to celebrate.  The same happens with hanami.  The stores are filled with products to help you enjoy your picnic; like picnic baskets, tarps to sit on, temperature controlling bags for food or drinks and even mini-BBQs.  Sakura themed products fill the shelves; dishes, chopsticks, boxes of beer, and even kit-kats.  Also, to help with the planning of hanami events, the news has a sakura viewing forecast on after the weather.  There are also quite a few websites dedicated to reporting on the blossoming around the country as well as tips about the best locations for sakura viewing.

If you ever want to visit Japan, I highly recommend coming at the end of March or beginning of April, when the sakura are in bloom.  Its incredibly beautiful and there's nothing like a picnic under the trees with some good friends and a couple of cold drinks.