Sakura in Champaign-Urbana: How to Enjoy the Cherry Tree Blossoms During the Stay-at-Home Order
One of our favorite times of spring is when the cherry tree blossoms bloom on campus at the University of Illinois.
Most years, Japan House encourages people to come to the Arboretum to bring their family and friends to enjoy the fleeting beauty first-hand. Unfortunately, this year is an exception.
Japan House and the Arboretum feel it is best to keep a safe distance and practice physical distancing, and are encouraging people to enjoy this once-a-year phenomenon while staying at home.
How? Join this Facebook event where Japan House will be showcasing the beauty of the season with pictures, videos, and crafting projects that everyone can enjoy from the safety of their home. This will include origami and other family fun!
Facts about Sakura
- Sakura, better known as Japanese Cherry Blossoms, have an important role in Japan. Cherry Blossoms are a symbolic flower of the spring, a time of renewal, and a reminder of the fleeting nature of life. Their lifespan is very short. After their beauty peaks for about two weeks, the blossoms then start to fall.
- During this season in Japan, people like to have cherry blossom viewing parties with colleagues, friends, and family. Cherry blossoms make people merry. They enjoy eating, drinking, and gathering underneath the blossoms. They refer to this custom as hanami. Hanami is translated as “flower viewing” – hana (flower) and mi (to see or view). The tradition can be traced back a thousand years.
- Cherry Blossoms are also an important part of the spring in Champaign-Urbana. Each year, the gardens at Japan House in the Arboretum at the University of Illinois come alive with 50 sakura trees bursting into life. They seem to be waiting for the perfect day to bloom!
Be sure to check in on the event page to see the tree’s daily progress. Families are encouraged to participate in the origami and other crafting projects that will be provided each day as well. Let’s have fun with this event and watch #chambana bloom.
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