VOA文化艺术2022--樱花节回到美国首都

The Cherry Blossom Festival Returns to America’s Capital

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrating its 110th anniversary. The popular event celebrating U.S.-Japanese ties, is once again being held in person. The most flowers are expected between March 22 and March 25.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is being held Washington, D.C. after two years of restrictions¹ because of COVID-19.

"This year, more than ever, you really understand why the festival is so important," said Diana Mayhew. She is the president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., the non-profit group that helps organize the events. "We recognize that it's more than just a festival. It's about spring and renewal² and a sense of new beginnings."

Weather changes and peak bloom

The National Park Service helps oversee³ the festival. The service estimates the cherry trees will have the most flowers, a time called peak bloom, between March 22 and 25. The special events start with the opening ceremony on March 20. They continue through April 17, with musical shows and other events like a parade on Saturday April 9.

Mike Litterst is a spokesman for the Park Service. He said although there was cold weather and snow recently it would not hurt the cherry blossoms. Temperatures below freezing can damage the blooms. In 2017 a late frost destroyed almost 50 percent of the flowers.

Trees in some areas of Washington have already started to blossom. However, the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin near the center of the city have not begun to flower. The area is a favorite place for tourist and photographers.

Litterst said the blossoms are still firmly inside of their buds. He said the buds act like an armor, giving the blossoms protection. If temperatures are lower next week, there might be some problems he said, adding, "I think we'll be OK this time."

Combining festival activities

For the past two years, large gatherings⁴ and crowds have been restricted because of the COVID-19 health emergency. City officials closed streets and public transportation around the Tidal Basin to block people from observing the pink-colored blossoms. The festival organizers worked hard to create safe ways for people to enjoy the yearly celebration of spring, including live videos and internet presentations.

This year, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared, "We want D.C. to be the face of spring for the nation."

This year also marks the 110th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees presented in 1912 by the mayor of Tokyo to the nation's capital. Japan's government remains⁵ deeply involved in the festival and often exchanges about 90 old trees for new ones every year.

Ryo Kuroishi of the Japanese Embassy, joked at this year's festival announcement that, "It feels a little strange to have all these people right in front of me instead of little Zoom⁶ squares."

Mayhew, the festival's president, said this year will include a joint⁷ event with usual and video experiences for those who are still not sure about attending public gatherings or traveling to the event.

Mayhew said, "We're spreading it out and being as cautious and as health conscious as possible. There's so many people who want to connect, even if they can't make it."

Popular activities will return this year. They include Bloom Cam, live video of the cherry blossoms. Petal⁸ Porches is an activity where people living in the city decorate the front of their homes with pictures and objects that look like cherry blossoms. The results are shown on the internet.

The popular March 26 kite flying festival will take place as it has in the past in the area surrounding the Washington Monument. But locals can hold their own kite flying events in areas where it is permitted.

Words in This Story

renewal – n. the state of being made new, fresh, or strong again; the condition of being renewed

peak bloom – n. a time when the U.S. National Park Service says that 70 percent of the cherry blossoms are in full bloom

frost – n. when freezing temperatures cause ice to form on the ground

tourist –n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure

buds – n. a growth on the end of a tree or plant that turns into a flower or leaf

armor – n. a protective covering

conscious –adj. knowing about or thinking about something

decorate – v. to make something nice-looking by adding things to it

porches – n. an area outside a building or home that has a covering over it

kite – n. an object that has a light frame and cloth that can be used for flying in the air with the wind

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

3 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

4 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 petal   

n.花瓣

参考例句：

• Each white petal had a stripe of red.每一片白色的花瓣上都有一条红色的条纹。
• A petal fluttered to the ground.一片花瓣飘落到地上。