Vernal Equinox Day

 Yesterday was a national holiday in Japan. 

It was Vernal Equinox Day, the day when the night and day are the same length. 

The holiday goes back to ancient times, when the spring equinox was tied to agricultural rituals and crop planting. Later, when Buddhism had a strong influence on society, the day became associated with Higan, a week-long period where people honored their ancestors, usually visiting graves to clean them and offer flowers and incense. The Vernal Equinox became a national holiday in 1948 when Japan secularized a lot of its holidays after World War 2.  For most people, it's a chance to get back to nature.  Where we live, the weather suddenly changed yesterday, from freezing and snow to warm breezes! David said that on the news the last effort of winter to hold on is usually called "General Winter's last march", kind of poetic!

When my kids were little, we watched one of Winne the Pooh's movies, I have no idea which one, but the story centered around having a party on the first day of spring. I thought this was such a lovely idea that for many years we would have a party on this day.  Schools finish for the year at the end of March, so this party was also to celebrate another year in school finished.  Just before starting school in April, we would have another little party to get the new school year off to a good start!

I really miss those days!  When cooking up a few treats made the kids excited, it was so simple! 

I guess this season of graduating and moving on has made me a bit nostalgic for the past!

The photo is from Christopher's birthday. But this would be how we would have parties, lots of good food, and usually a video to watch together. 

Christophers birthday

I'll have to look at my photos to see if I have any from our spring parties!