National Cherry Blossom Parade
Credit: Jason Dixson Photography
The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D. C., is one of the city’ s most iconic annual events. It celebrates the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan. Held each spring, typically from late March to mid-April, the festival attracts over 1.5 million visitors from around the world to witness the spectacular blooming of cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin and throughout the capital.
The history of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D. C., begins with a remarkable act of international friendship over a century ago. In 1912, the city of Tokyo gifted 3,000 cherry trees to the United States as a gesture of goodwill and to honor the growing relationship between Japan and America. This symbolic gift was orchestrated by Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo and accepted by First Lady Helen Taft, who had a personal interest in beautifying Washington, D. C.
Cherry blossoms, or sakura, hold deep cultural significance in Japan. Due to their brief blooming period, they symbolize the transient nature of life— an idea rooted in Buddhist philosophy. In the U. S., the blossoms have become a symbol of renewal, peace, and friendship.
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