Throughout the world people find different ways to celebrate Spring. Whether you are flying a kite in Utah, drenching friends in India, or picnicking under cherry blossom trees in Japan, you are sharing in the tradition of Spring festivities.
The Spring Equinox naturally draws people outdoors. Spring symbolizes rebirth, rejuvenation and growth while Equinox refers to equal hours of day and night. The days leading up to March 20th get closer and closer to exactly 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light.
In preparation for our own Spring Festival here in Provo on April 19th at Rock Canyon Park, we would like to share with you a few traditions from other countries.
Songkran Water Festival in Thailand
In Thailand, Spring is celebrated in April, which is the hottest month of the year and marks their traditional New Year. Today, tourists and natives gather together to throw water on each other and play in the streets. The water symbolizes washing away bad luck and the past.
This sort of festivity, however, was not always the main activity of the festival. Songkran is traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends, neighbors, and monks.
The practice of throwing water originated from the tradition of cleansing the Buddhas and then saving the water and using it as a way to bless family and friends by pouring it on them.
Hanami Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan
In Japan “Hanami” is tradition in Spring. Hanami is the practice of picnicking under the cherry blossom trees with friends and family. The blossoms are highly symbolic and are used frequently to represent mortality and its qualities of beautiful growth yet quick death.
The public pays close attention to the Japanese Meteorological Agency forecasts as they track the blossoming process across the country. Large groups of families and friends hold “viewing parties” near parks, shrines and temples in order to admire the “clouds” of cherry blossoms.
Holi Hindu Color Festival
The festival originated from two Hindu legends and was originally practiced to celebrate Spring, fertile land, abundant colors, the renewal of relationships and the New Year.
The festivities begin with a bonfire at night representing the death of the evil god Holika. The color festivities begin in the morning representing the love between Krishna, who was poisoned and turned blue as a child, and Radha his love whom he feared would not accept him because of his blue skin.
Join us at Provo City's Spring Festival to create new traditions as we celebrate Provo, the home of discovery and adventure.
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