The cold weather has subsided and the number of warm days is increasing.
It's great to have warm weather, but it's also the season when your nose and eyes get itchy...
This time we will talk about the fourth season of the 24 solar terms, the vernal equinox .
What is the Vernal Equinox?
The vernal equinox refers to the period from March 20th to April 3rd.
The day when day and night are of equal length.
I'm sure many of you are finally starting a new life.
We are now entering the spring equinox again.
The period is seven days in total, starting from the Vernal Equinox and ending three days before and after.
During the spring equinox, in addition to offering prayers for the spirits of ancestors, many places also hold festivals for agricultural crops.
Vernal Equinox Foods
Sakura mochi and sakura shrimp are in season around the time of the vernal equinox.
It's lovely and tasteful that things that are in season during the cherry blossom season have the word "sakura" in their name.
Sakura mochi is rice cake filled with bean paste and wrapped in salted cherry leaves.
There are regional differences; in the Kanto region, the skin is made from wheat flour, while in the Kansai region, the bean paste is wrapped in a skin made from Domyoji flour, which is made from glutinous barley.
Sakura shrimp are known as the "jewel of the sea" and are said to be found nowhere else in Japan except in Suruga Bay.
It is so named because its transparent body appears cherry blossom-colored when exposed to light.
It is in season twice a year (late March to early June, and late October to December).
Vernal Equinox Flower
Cherry blossoms and magnolias bloom around the time of the vernal equinox.
It is no exaggeration to say that cherry blossoms are a special flower for us.
It is also the only flower that people look forward to seeing bloom so much that they hold cherry blossom viewing parties.
In reality, many people may say that food is better than flowers!
Nowadays, many small potted plants are available at florists, so you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing while eating dumplings at home.
Magnolias are large flowers that bloom towards the sky.
The best time to see the flowers is from late March to early April.
You'll most likely see them in cream and purple colors.
72nd generation
- Sparrows start to build their nests.
- Cherry blossoms begin to bloom (Sakura Hajimete Hiraku) Cherry blossoms begin to bloom
- The sound of thunder begins to ring in the distance.
*The 72 seasonal divisions (shichijunikou) are a system of representing the seasons devised in ancient China. They refer to periods in which the 24 solar terms are further divided into three periods of approximately five days each.
Be sure to take all necessary precautions against pollen and enjoy the long-awaited spring to the fullest.
Author: Sekido Edited by: Yui and Kambara
