Introduction
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring festivity in Washington, D.C. It is celebrated on the March 27. In 1912, endowment of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City to the city of Washington, D.C. took place. City hall leader Ozaki gave the trees to improve the developing kinship between the United States and Japan. Furthermore, he praised the proceeded with cozy connection between the two nations. Large and vivid helium balloons, floats, walking groups from the nation over are a part. Moreover, music and ability to entertain are portions of the festival’s procession and different events.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees. They were gifted from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. Thus, celebrates the long-lasting friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. Today’s Festival now lasts four weeks. Moreover, it welcomes more than 1.5 million people to enjoy diverse and creative programming. Consequently, promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Events are primarily free and open to the public.
About 2022 Official Artist: Lea Craigie- Marshall
Brought into the world in Falls Church, VA in 1976, Lea showed ability since the beginning. A conceived artist, she spent her youth taking different art classes with her artist grandma. Thus she took classes in the mountains of West Virginia. Lea likewise tracked down motivation at home in her mom, additionally an artist. These solid female impacts. Moreover, visiting her cherished first old neighborhood of Washington, DC on weekends. It filled in as strong powers to form Lea into the dynamic and convincing artist she is today.
Lea is a multidisciplinary, contemporary craftsman working with different mediums and methods. Lea was first associated with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. She was selected as one of 25 artists chose to paint a 2021 Art in Bloom Giant Cherry Blossom Sculpture named “Crane’s Dance”. It is currently forever dwells at Ward Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ward 7. Lea highly values involving different mediums and methods as well as dominating everyone. Whether it is through a political/social activism piece, a wonderful scene or a huge scope wall painting. Furthermore, it could be a representation of one of her cherished specialists Frida Kahlo. Therefore, she desires to inspire a profound association inside the watcher.
History of the Festival:
1. 1912: 3,000 CHERRY TREES GIFTED:
More than 3,000 trees arrived in Washington in 1912. It was after coordination between the governments of the two countries, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, a world-famous chemist and the founder of Sankyo Co., Ltd. And Dr. David Fairchild of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Eliza Scidmore. She was the first female board member of the National Geographic Society, and First Lady Helen Herron Taft.
2. MARCH 1912: FIRST TREES PLANTED:
A simple ceremony was held on March 27, 1912. First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees from Japan. They did it on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park.
3. 1912 – PRESENT: FIRST LADIES INVOLVED:
Since First Lady Taft’s involvement, the nation’s first ladies have been proponents of the festivals. Historically, many were involved in events through the National Conference of State Societies’ Princess Program. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower crowned Queen Janet Bailey in 1953. Moreover, in 1976 Betty Ford invited the princesses to the White House.
In the 1965, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson accepted 3,800 Yoshino trees from the government of Japan. Additionally, she held a tree planting reenactment. In the same way All first ladies in recent years have served as Honorary Chair, many participating as well. In 1999, First Lady Hillary Clinton took part in a tree planting ceremony.And In 2001, First Lady Laura Bush greeted guests with remarks at the Opening Ceremony. Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama was involved in 2012, because planting a cherry tree in West Potomac Park among dignitaries and guests.
4. 1915: UNITED STATES RECIPROCATES:
In 1915, the United States Government reciprocated with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan.
5. 1927 – 1935: SCHOOLS & CIVIC GROUPS EXPAND FESTIVITIES:
School children reenacted the initial planting and other activities, holding the first “festival” in 1927. Civic groups helped expand the festivities in 1935.
6. 1981: JAPAN GIVEN CUTTINGS FOLLOWING FLOOD:
In 1981, the cycle of giving came full circle. Japanese horticulturists were given cuttings from the original trees in the same way DC to replace some cherry trees in Japan which had been destroyed in a flood.
7. 1994 – 2012: FESTIVAL EXPANDS PROGRAMMING:
The festival expanded to two weeks in 1994. The reason was to accommodate and a diverse schedule during the blooming period. Growing again in 2012, the 100-year anniversary was marked with a five-week celebration.
Present and Future:
The National Cherry Blossom Festival pivoted to a virtual Festival with one week’s notice at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
As the pandemic continued, but the 2021 Festival featured hybrid programs and activities that extended beyond the Tidal Basin. It is across the District, in adjacent neighborhoods in Maryland and Virginia. In the Same way , it is even across the country and around the world.
The 2022 Festival celebrates the 110th anniversary of the gift of trees. What started with a gift is now one of the world’s greatest celebrations of spring.
