How to live like an 18th Century aristocrat

by M

As spring approaches, winter snows are being replaced by sakura (cherry tree) showers of faint pink to magenta. The arrival of warmer weather coinciding with the blossoming of cherry trees has always been a lovely excuse to have an official flower viewing, otherwise known as a hanami party! So, fellow mooks, let us go forth and have hanami!

The first hanami were celebrated in the Japan in the 700s and were enjoyed only by the aristocracy. But flowers are little socialists at heart and meant to be enjoyed by all - and now hanami is celebrated by nearly everyone in Japan. Hanami is so popular that the Japanese weather bureau actually tracks the daily blossom forecast.

Can't fly out to Asia over spring break? No problem; cherry trees can be found all across America and Canada, as well as the Western Philippines, Batsford, England and Altes Land, Germany... cherry blossom tress have become a trend that's here to stay and beautiful trees can be found everywhere!

How to celebrate hanami with a hanami party

Celebrate hanami with poetry

One of the two ways to celebrate is to walk or sit among the sakura (cherry trees) and contemplate the symbolism behind the delicate petals, perhaps writing some poetic lines or haiku. The sakura trees produce beautiful flowers, but the cherry fruit comes from sakuranbo, a different species of tree. The sakura trees do not bear fruit and are, for practical purposes, useless. The sakura are simply intensely beautiful and, like intense emotions, soon fade away.

The flowers are said to be like the Samurai who does not fear death and, after a few hours of glory in battle, will fall without hesitation. During the second World War, kamikaze pilots would paint cherry blossoms on the sides of their planes, or take whole branches with them.

Less melancholy symbolism is also attributed to the flowers. The Chinese attribute feminine beauty to the flowers, or 'love' in the language of herbs, and Japanese newly-weds drink a special tea made with cherry petals preserved in salt to ensure their happiness. Salty cherry petal tea? Oh, those Japanese.

Celebrate hanami with a picnic

If peaceful contemplation and poetry-writing isn't your thing, then let's have a picnic! In popular places, it's common practice to reserve a spot by spreading the picnic blanket or, usually, a blue tarp, early in the morning with the group's name and the party's starting time labelled on it. It's a good idea to do this because by evening the parks in Japan will be very crowded and occasionally fights will break out over the best picnic spots.

The proverb 'hana yori dango', meaning 'dumplings over flowers' playfully suggests at the real priority for many cherry blossom viewers: Food. Hanami dango, or cherry blossom dumplings, are traditionally eaten with sake, but the picnics certainly aren't limited to that.

Another favourite Japanese pastime, karaoke, is part of the hanami parties. It's common for people to bring a portable stereo to the picnic. In many places, temporary paper lanterns are hung for yozakura, which literally means 'night sakura', as the parties often continue late into the night.

Hanami Dango Recipe

• 1. Mix 1 cup rice flour and 1/3 cup water. The consistency should be firm and slightly crumbly.
• 2. Divide the dough into thirds.
• 3. Mix pink or red food colouring into one part; matcha, yomagi or green food colouring into another part; leave the last section plain.
• 4. Roll into balls about 1 inch in diameter.
• 5. Cook the dango in a pot of boiling water (a few at a time). When they are almost ready, the dango will rise to the top of the pot. After that happens, allow to cook for a further 3 minutes.
• 6. Strain dango.
• 7. Put one of each colour on a skewer and then eat!

Dango does not keep very well, so it's best to make as much as you will actually eat.

So, fellow mooks, let us go forth and have hanami!

Where to visit: www.animecooking.com

What to listen to: 'Cherry Blossom Girl' by Air

Picnics, parties and tea party ideas on Mookychick:

• Cupcake tea party ideas
• How to have a tea party
• Picnic ideas
• How to have a Japanese hanami party
• Black light party ideas
• Burlesque party ideas
• How to have an unbirthday party
• Alternative hen night ideas

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