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We have already talked in depth in other articles about cherry blossom tattoos, or sakura tattoos, and about its meaning. Without a doubt, they are highly appreciated flowers both in Japan and in the rest of the world.
Therefore, in this article about cherry blossom tattoos we will talk about a very special Japanese tradition related to this tattoo. We talk about hanami, or the tradition of admiring the flowers of these trees.
A tradition with centuries of history
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As we said, cherry blossom tattoos are based on one of the most iconic flowers in Japan. In fact, it is so much so that it even has its own party, the hanami (literally 'look at the flowers' in Japanese).
Hanami is believed to have originated during the Nara period (710–794) with plum blossoms, although it was eventually changed to cherry blossoms. In the Edo period (1603-1868) the hanami had already gone from being a festival of the imperial family, to the samurai class and the common people.
What is hanami?
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The Japanese reach unsuspected levels during the two weeks of flowering of the cherry trees to observe them from the best place. A) Yes, hours and even days before the Japanese keep the best places under the trees. When the flowering reaches its culmination, they will observe the flowers with their family and friends (and even co-workers or classmates, since the flowering coincides with the school year) while they nibble on delicious sweets such as dango and drink sake and tea.
In fact, the celebration of hanami has become so famous that it has been imported to other countries in the world and it is no longer strange to be able to celebrate it in places as diverse as Rome or Washington.
We hope this article has interested you to learn a little more about the implications of cherry blossom tattoos. Tell us, do you have a tattoo like this? Did you know the tradition of hanami? Let us know in the comments!