All across the city, blossoms from the cherry trees are exploding in soft shades of pink transforming the city for a couple of weeks into a fluffy wonderland that sends the inhabitants into a frenzy of mass enjoyment.
As mentioned in this previous post, back in 1925, a couple of municipalities in Japan gifted 500 cherry trees to the city of Vancouver in honour of Japanese-Canadian soldiers who fought in the first World War. There are now around 40,000-43,000 trees of different blossomy species that burst in early spring.
It is quite the spectacle when they all bloom simultaneously. Citizens and visitors take this opportunity to celebrate and welcome the arrival of the flowering season.
Food trucks, merchants, music, plenty of blossoms, and other delightful sights await festival goers. It was a peaceful and relaxed scene that went well into the night, when the cherry trees are usually illuminated with lights that makes them glow wonderfully.
This free outdoor festival invites people to bring a picnic and enjoy a day outside in the park, overlooking the sea while surrounded by the extravagant cherry trees.
The light conditions varied greatly the day of the festival on account of the thick dark clouds that were hanging around in an otherwise clear day. I took the opportunity to try different settings and functions on the camera.
On some trees, people were hanging prayers, poems, and wishes from the branches, which in Japanese tradition represent offerings to the kami (spirits) of the tree.
Thank you for joining me in this festival.
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