As spring reaches those of us in the Northern hemisphere, the world is beginning anew. The spring rains are bringing forth new growth all around us, and the temperature is finally creeping warmer virtually every day. It’s no wonder, then, that Spring is considered to be a prime time for celebration throughout the world.
In Germany, the celebration of Walpurgisnacht on April 30th and May 1st celebrates the release of winter’s hold on the land and the oncoming joy of summer. Children celebrate in a similar fashion to Halloween, playing pranks on unsuspecting victims as midnight draws near. Many people hold witches’ fires to ward off the evil spirits of winter. And on May 1st, it is believed that the earth spirits like sprites and fairies emerge to bring the land safely to summer. People celebrate with great feasts of food and drink as the look forward to the coming of summer.chocolate easter egg basketDuring the times of ancient Rome, spring was fêted with the Feast of Floralia. This celebration marked the flowering of the grains and the bounty of the animals as spring continued. It’s actually believed that the egg became an important symbol during this time period, as it noted both the egg that brought forth life and the egg that nourished people. As this festival evolved, people began creating eggs out of many materials, including chocolate, as gifts for their loved ones. Young matrons carried these eggs with them in baskets throughout the Spring, trying to determine the possible gender of a future child.
In the British Isles, many people celebrate the Festival of Beltane on May Day. Lighting fires was customary at this time, and traditionally a Beltane fire (very similar to the witches’ fires of Germany) was composed of the nine sacred woods of the Celts. When daylight comes, people celebrate by dancing and singing around a maypole tied with colorful streamers or ribbons.
May Day never was celebrated as much in the United States as it is in Great Britain because of the Puritans’ discouragement of the day as a pagan holiday. However, many American communities still celebrate this time with May queens and the hanging of May baskets filled with flowers and chocolates on the doorknobs of friends and family.cherry blossoms washington d.c.
One spring ritual that always graces the news in the United States is the blooming of the cherry trees in Washington D.C. These beautiful trees that line the Tidal Basin in the capital of the United States were a gift from Japan over 100 years ago and bloom every spring and bring with them a site that every American should see at least once, a sweet smell to the air that not even modern pollution can dim, and a warmth of the knowledge that spring has indeed arrived. The blooming of these trees is always eagerly awaited by both locals and tourists alike, and the few benches along the route are often taken in the wee hours of the morning by sightseers waking up with a bit of coffee or hot chocolate from a vending cart.
Russia National Day
Russia Day is one of the newest holidays celebrated by the Russian people. This does not mean, however, that it comes without due pomp and circumstance. Although it’s still young, Russia Day is evolving into a holiday revered by the Russian people.The Mysterious Truffle
Truffles are well-known as some of the most delectable chocolate treats available. But they are such a delicacy that they were shrouded in mystery for many years. These tempting treats are exquisite in variety of both taste and settings in which to enjoy them.A. Korkunov The History of a Russian Chocolatier
When the USSR fell in 1991; a new brand of Russian businessperson was born. No longer under the heavy hand of the Communist Party, the Russian version of capitalism rose from the ashes of the latent regime. One of these businessmen was Mr. Andrei Korkunov.