The History of The National Cherry Blossom Festival

If you’re like most people, you have a personal “bucket list” of things you want to do during your life. I’d like to recommend adding another item to the list.

Every year around March, thousands of people journey to Washington, D.C. to enjoy the National Cherry Blossom Festival. If you’ve ever seen these trees in bloom, you know what a breathtaking spectacle they are. While we often associate our capital with the dreary grind of politics, for a few weeks every year, the city becomes festooned with color.

The festival has a long and happy history. The trees were first donated in 1910 by the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States. Unfortunately, the trees were infested with pests, forcing President Taft himself to order them burned. Undeterred, the Mayor of Tokyo donated three thousand new trees, which the First Lady, Helen Taft, helped plant on March 27, 1912. More trees were planted over the next decade, until in 1927, a group of children re-enacted the first planting. Historians consider this the first edition of the festival. A symbol of spring, rejuvenation, and friendship, the trees are some of the most beautiful possessions our nation has.

As a financial advisor, part of my job is to help people achieve the goals on their personal bucket list. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an event I’d recommend everyone add to theirs. Happy Spring!