Dreaming of Cherry Blossoms: Pink is the colour of unconditional love to "ourselves" and "others"

They start to bloom in April and just a few weeks ago I could enjoy them in full bloom. Short and sweet, the full bloom of Cherry Tree Blossoms peaks only for one week. A symbol of renewal but also the transient nature of life itself. Every Spring the blossoms can transform a dull city street into a fairytale scenery every Spring. It's magic!

Sakura Blossoms

Sakura (桜 (kanji), 櫻 (old kanji), さくら (hiragana), サクラ (katakana)) is the Japanese term for ornamental flowering cherry blossom trees that belong to the genus Prunus. Cherry blossoms are along with Chrysanthemum the national flower of Japan. The image of Japan in Spring is invariably linked to white and pink flowers. Still these trees are now widespread in other countries and I'm blessed to have many of them in my neighbourhood as my town has a sisterhood with a Japanese town.
Just a few weeks ago it was "raining petals" again.
The breeze was sweeping them and they would swirl all around...

Don't you believe in magic? I do

They usually bloom mid April though the flowers only last for a couple of weeks. Its beauty is fleeting but also a symbol of renewal. Present in countless poems and folklore tails, it blooms in full splendor then falls with the wind soon after. It represents the transient nature of life itself. The leaves are born copper brown and turn green in Summer.

Blossom festivals: The tradition of Hanami and Yozakura

In Japan, during this season people celebrate the ancient tradition of Hanami literally means “watching blossoms,” and friends and family gather, bond and celebrate, even parties to meet new friends. The custom may have started during the Nara period (710–794). It was originally a way to worship the goods Nature provided. People believed in spirits (kami) that would inhabit the trees and made offerings and partook with sake.

During the night Hanami shifts name into Yozakura (that means cherry blossom at night). In China they have also "blossom festivals". I was born in La Palma, the Canary Islands, and there we have a similar tradition around the blooming of almond trees.

^{Above: Painting by Toyohara Chikanobu (1894) Women in Edo Palace. License: Public Domain}

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In fields, mountains and villages
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the morning sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.

^{Above: translation of the traditional Japanese folk song Sakura Sakura dated in the Meiji period.}

Are there blossom festivals where you live? Share in the comments

Cherry blossom trees belong to the genus Prunus

The most popular variety of cherry blossom Prunus yedonensis has white flowers with a light pink tint. Very delicate, but the ones around my neighbourhood that belongs to the variety Prunus serrulata "Kanzan" that actually comes from China and that blooms in clusters of double pink blossom, each one with 20-30 petals. It is sterile and gives no fruits. Vigorous, upright they are sturdy trees that prefer sunny spots. And are likely the more widespread in cities all over the world because of its spectacular blooming and later on lush shady canopy in Summer.
The town I live in, Pamplona (North of Spain) has a sisterhood with Yamaguchi (Japan) so we are blessed with many Cherry Tree Blossoms around April and early May.

Preparing the photoshoot. Never pick a flower from the tree, it brings bad luck!!

Japanese tradition say you should never pick a petal, blossom or branch from a cherry tree, it brings bad luck... probably this was meant to prevent people from taking the flowers from the trees. Well, I did not... I collected all the blossoms one windy morning when it had rained petals and even full flowers. It was so easy to collect, the whole streets were paved with them. So none were taken from the trees where they remained until the time to fall down. I connected an entire box full of petals.

Final result and the meaning of the color pink: Unconditional love, tenderness

I tried to convey tenderness, sweetness and innocence... fragility too, things often related with this this colour. Pink is often related to our "inner child". Overall I liked the result, I think it looks very vulnerable but also "starry eyed and full of hope".

Pd: I made the crown myself, I wish I had realized to change the paper roses for cherry blossoms... but overall it was at hand and it fitted with the colours and mood.

I'll admit it... I'm not very fond of the colour pink... I almost never wear it... And I guess that is because I happen to have very blonde hair and blue eyes, If I wear pink I suffer the the cliché and or stigma of Barbie Doll... So it's been a colour I avoid to wear. I never played with dolls really...

But in all fair honesty It is indeed a very feminine colour yet still much more than that.

I have to say I have made amends with pink thanks to Spring blossoms... and I started to "feel" the pure energy of this color too. I love pink in Spring when it explodes all around me.

The colour related with caring and understanding...
It combines the passion of the "red" and the purity of the "white" combined.

It is also considered the universal colour of love to ourselves and others. Also associated to the idea of "unconditional love"

It's related hope, with empathy and also with our childhood.
I am myself a grown child, and still very naive in many ways

It is related with health. We say "rosy cheeks"

Check other articles in the "Bloom" series

give and you shall receive

During Spring and because it's time to bloom and renew, I am doing a special series of articles and photo shoots about flowers. I like the metaphorical idea of "blooming" during this season... and I'm undergoing a time where I have been nurturing the seeds of my dreams so they can grow, and hopefully bloom.

Check the previous ones:

• The time of roses

• May Queen: Welcoming warmer days

• Daffodils early bloom: a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings

• Beltane Blessings in full bloom

All pictures in this article are copyrighted to me Priscilla Hernandez @yidneth in collaboration with @hedac. All Rights Reserved.