Spring Season in Laos – The Songkran Festival
Good news! Spring has officially started. Around March 21st the spring or vernal equinox occurs, traditionally marking the beginning of the spring season. I always remind the kids because from this time forward, the days continue to grow longer with sunlight taking precedence over darkness.
Spring brings the end of the winter season, with the hope of summer just around the corner. During this wonderful time of year flowers bloom, hibernating animals emerge, and many species give birth to their young.
Of course, spring is just as important for us people. More sunny days, walks, barbecues, and time at the pool are soon to be here. We do spring cleaning, gardening, and planting to get ready for summer. It strikes me that all of these activities are so ingrained in us that they have become traditions. But they are also symptoms—the symptoms of spring fever! As Mark Twain said, “Spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so.”
Spring fever is so common; almost every culture around the world celebrates it in some form or fashion. Different traditions abound, from the simple to the elaborate:
Sechselauten – Switzerland The end of this holiday is the burning of winter, a figure of a snowman filled with explosives. (Maybe this is why the Swiss never fight in wars—they take everything out on their snowmen!)
Sechselauten – Switzerland [VIDEO]
The Songkran Festival – Laos In April the country of Laos turns into a giant water fight in celebration of their New Year. This tradition falls in the peak of the dry season and extensive heat. During this time, homes and holy places alike are cleaned. You may also get soaked while walking down the street—all in good-natured fun, of course!
Songkran Festival – Laos [VIDEO]
Cherry Blossom Festival – Japan Similar to the festival that occurs in Washington, D.C. that I mentioned in last week’s email. In Japan, each year the people look forward to the blooming of the cherry blossom trees as well. It is a time for families and friends to gather, picnic, and enjoy music and drink.
Cherry Blossom Festival – Japan [VIDEO]
These celebrations remind us that spring is a season of renewal. In older times, people actually thought of spring as a time for new resolutions and new beginnings instead of the beginning of the calendar year like we do today. My thought? Let’s do both.
I hope you are enjoying spring as much as I am. I hope you have a renewed outlook on the possibilities of life during this beautiful time of year. Spring is a wonderful chance to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the world. It’s a chance to participate in an old tradition, or even start a new one. But however you celebrate, I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say, “May we all catch spring fever … and never recover!”
Here’s wishing you a delightful spring.
