Cherry Blossom Fest
Once a year on the University of Washington campus there is a massive group of people that gather to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. It’s early April in Seattle and we are in the middle of fake spring. A week ago it was sunny and warm, now it’s back to cold and rainy.
The gathering that takes place seems to always be a spectacle of human behavior - generally as influenced by social media. The beauty of the trees blooming in the Quad is undeniable, however there are many people that are there to obtain photographs and videos of themselves in order to share on social media. What did this event feel like 20 years ago? This isn’t a post about social media - it’s just a treat to see people come outside in a city that is so often gray and rainy.
Often during this time of year, the day will be sort of dark and overcast but then around 3pm the sun will make an appearance. It’s as if the people in Seattle who are at work, all suddenly long to be out of the office and outside in the mid afternoon. The cherry blossom festival felt less like an actual festival, but more of a collective hopeful intention by Seattleites for sunshine and the emergence of spring.
