Spring Equinox Day (shunbun no hi)

The Vernal Equinox 2010 is a phenomenon that is occurring on the Saturday; 20th of March and marks the beginning of SPRING and the end of WINTER. It is also known as the March Equinox or the Spring Equinox. The vernal equinox 2010 is said to happen twice every year when the suns is exactly above the equator and marks the equality of both day and night, light and dark. The vernal equinox signifies a change in season and hence is regarded with great importance all over the world, both culturally and religiously.

The vernal equinox in Japan is celebrated by visiting the graves of people who have passed away as a way of honoring the dead. In Japanese language it is known as 'Shunbun No Hi', is celebrated all over Japan and is a time for cleaning the graves of ancestors. It is also common to leave gifts of fruit and rice cakes on the gravesides which are believed to make the passage to the afterlife easier. The day of the equinox is a public holiday throughout Japan.

*close up of cherry blossom flower*

We took the chance during this spring equinox public holiday to tour around the Maizuru-Koen (park) area to take a look at the cherry blossoms tree (sakura). Maizuru park is composed mainly of Fukuoka castle grounds and is bounded on two sides by the what remains of the castle walls and moat. It is a very pleasant place to stroll, particularly on a moonlit night in cherry blossom season. In the center of the park on top of the mighty castle walls is a viewing platform from which most of the city is visible. The park also contains the Heiwadai athletics track.

*fish & ducks at the lake*

*lovely view of Maizuru Park*

Though the weather is a little bit warmer than during the winter, it is still consider cold due to the windy and breezily heavy blow of wind from the open area of the lake. Thus, we didn't spent so much time at the park..lepas snap few pics, cepat2 masuk dalam kereta hohoho.

*baby SN tengah "geram" dengan bunga sakura*

Somehow it make me missed last year's spring season when I was carrying baby SN inside my tummy sebab masa tu I asyik panas je, jadi rasa seronok jalan2 sebab pakai jaket nipis pun rilek je. Last year, during this early of Spring season hubby & I was on a tour to Nagasaki --> *read : Journey to Nagasaki (part 1) --> Saikabashi Park, Journey to Nagasaki (part 2) --> Huis Ten Bosch, Journey to Nagasaki (part 3) --> the rest of Huis Ten Bosch, Journey to Nagasaki (part 4) --> Isahaya Koen, Journey to Nagasaki (part 5) --> Atomic Bomb Museum and Journey to Nagasaki (part 6) --> Hot Spring & Volcano*. This year punya Spring Season pulak, baby SN yang excited tengok bunga2 berkembang mekar ececece.

*nice reflection of the bridge*

*posing ala2 berangan model kalendar sakura by mommy & baby SN hik3x*

#info gathered from : allvoices, world events guide#

Pssssttt : weekend ni ada picnic kat bawah pokok sakura beramai2, harap2 langit cerah dan tak sejuk sangat *walaupun ikut forecast : suhu 13°C* hohoho