Fertility, freshness, festivals – it's Spring!

By Ali Suleman and Nazish

When the word spring is mentioned, images of lush green meadows, colourful flowers with pretty butterflies fluttering over them and spectacular rainfalls come to one's mind. Lying between winter and summer, spring is regarded as the culmination of the chilling winter, the beginning of gradually lengthening days and an elixir of Llife for the withered autumn plants. It is seen as a time of growth and renewal. The term is metaphorically used for the end of bitter times and the start of better times.

Since spring is regarded as a season of fertility, of harvest of one crop and sowing of another, it has been celebrated throughout the world --mainly by farmers -- for thousands of years. Today, many of these celebrations have been converted into wide-range festivals and are celebrated by many all over the world.

Let's take a look at some of these festivals that are observed in different parts of the world by people belonging to different cultures to honour the season of joy and splendour -- spring!

Rang Barse!

'Holi' falls in the end of February or the beginning of March and Hindus all over the world celebrate Holi to mark the commencement of spring. Spirits run high as farmers enjoy a bountiful harvest and preparations for the festivities begin. According to customs, mothers make new clothes for their married daughters, coloured powder (gulal) is bought and prepared, long syringes called 'pichkaris' are arranged, and water balloons are filled with coloured water. Gulal is made from flowers, roots of certain plants, and herbs which turn dry during the winter. These herbs are good for the skin.

On the Holi day, people of all ages gather on the streets and a riot of colours take place. Gulal is thrown in the air and smeared on faces and bodies using pichkaris, water balloons are thrown at friends and neighbours and the beat of dholaks can be heard everywhere accompanied by the songs of Holi sung by the merry-makers.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, which is also called the Spring Festival, falls on January 1st, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. In Mandarin, it is called zheng yue.

When it is time to celebrate the Chinese New Year, China springs to life; cities are decorated with lanterns and not only houses, but streets, shopping malls and restaurants are also beautifully decorated. Floral decorations are an important part of the festival and bright flowers are arranged in attractive manners, depicting the arrival of spring.

The celebrations include lion dance performance and dragon lantern shows. At some places, there is this custom of visiting the flower market and of going to the temple fair. Money is given to the children by their elders. The money, called lai see, is usually handed out in red envelopes, and is believed to bring good luck. Although it is celebrated differently across China, all celebrations include the Chinese New Year Feast, firecrackers, lai see, the ringing of the New Year's bell, and Chinese New Year Greetings.

African Magoebaskloof

Every year in September visitors flock to the Magoebaskloof Spring Festival -- a celebration of spring and all that it brings. The Magoebaskloof countryside in spring is impressive; it is filled with the promise of new life. The Spring Festival features a crafters' market full of unique art work, textile and glassware. Other items on display include pewter work, basketwork, clothing, wooden and wrought iron furniture, traditional beadwork jewellery, modern silver jewellery, pottery, and paintings.

The Magoebaskloof Spring Festival Food Hall is packed with plenty of tasty treats to tantalise the taste buds. These treats include home-made jams, fudge, shortbread, exotic pickled vegetables, olives, organic cheeses, dried fruit, biltong and pasta.

One of the most popular features of this spring festival is the display of exquisite orchids and an incredible variety of plants with unusual flowers is showcased. Spring in Africa is a great opportunity to visit some of the best public gardens. Every ten years, one of the gardens is chosen as the 'Most Romantic Garden of the Decade'.

The festival is finished off by people enjoying the beauty of spring, trying their luck at trout fishing, cooling off in waterfalls, or taking a hike in the surrounding hills.

Navroze Pirooz va Baharan Shad!

To mark the arrival of spring and revival of nature, Iran celebrates the lively festival of Navroze. Navroze is the Persian word for "new day" (Persian: nav = new, roze = day). Though basically it is the Iranian New Year celebration, it is also observed in a number of countries in Central and South Asia, including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to name a few. The celebration has been in practice since 300 BC.

In Iran, Navroze is considered an important holiday. Preparations begin in the last month of the Persian solar calendar. In association with the "rebirth of nature", extensive spring-cleaning is started in every house; new clothes are bought, special dishes are cooked, and presents for relatives and friends are purchased. The Navroze celebrations last for twelve days, during which people visit their relatives, and consume the scrumptious meals readied exclusively for the occasion.

One of the traditions of this festival is performed on the first day of the 12-day celebration. Family-members gather around a specially decorated table called 'Haft Seen', and wait for the time of spring to arrive. At that exact moment, gifts are exchanged. Another custom is that on the last Tuesday night of the year, people walk on roads and streets singing traditional songs to show their happiness and joy at the upcoming season. As this festival is the beginning of the New Year, it is believed that whatever you do on the Navroze, it will affect your whole year!

Happy springtime! - Spring in Europe

When the snow begins to melt and warmer weather approaches Eastern Europe, the calendar fills up with arts and culture festivals, religious celebrations, and plenty of national holidays.

Most of the European countries keep on celebrating pagan festivals and Orthodox Christian festivals throughout the year. However, spring time favourites are the Wine Festival, Baba Marta and Easter.

The Wine Festival is observed in May every year. Different types of wines are served, along with special cuisines. Spring is the season of grapes, so wine is considered the best drink for welcoming its arrival.

The word Baba Marta means 'Grandmother March' in Bulgarian. This is actually the name of a mythical woman, who brings with her the end of winter and the start of spring. An old, grumpy lady, Baba Marta's mood changes just like the weather does. The holiday of Baba Marta is celebrated on the 1st of March every year. This is a prominent festival in Bulgaria, and is celebrated with joy.

Easter is a religious Christian festival celebrated on a Sunday in either March or April to commemorate the resurrection of Christ.

Though there are minor differences between the different Christian sects, all Christians fast for forty days before Easter. This period of fasting is called Lent. Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies are a few of the popular Easter traditions.

Bo Kata!

As the sky returns to its lighter hues and mother earth revitalises the beauty that was frosted by the harsh winter weather, Pakistanis celebrate the colourful Jashn-e-Baharaan.

On the occasion, bright-coloured traditional costumes are worn, symbolising the arrival of the season of the blooming flowers. Sumptuous food items like samosas, pakoras, biryani and BBQ are prepared.

The most popular festival of spring is Basant. In addition to Pakistan, this festival is also celebrated in Northern India. History of 'Basant' among Muslims dates back to the Sufi saints in India. Amir Khusro, a well-known 12th Century poet and a disciple of the revered saint, Hazrat Nizam ud Din Aulia says in a poem of his,

Aaj basant mana lay suhaagan, aaj basant mana lay

Anjan manjan kar piya mori, lambay neher laga lay

Tu kiya sovay neend ki maasi, so jaagay teray bhaag, suhaagan,

Aaj basant mana lay

The word Basant literally means spring. It is a festival celebrated with kites and on Basant day the sky is barely visible. Throughout the day and night of Basant, kites of every imaginable shape and size are flown, and mouth-watering foods are consumed. Many people sleep on their rooftops for that one night, so that they can enjoy the festival to its fullest.

This much needed cultural gala with all its fun and frolic breathes a new soul into the bodies and minds of people, which, in many ways, is much like the spring that brings life to the wilted plants.

[http://jang.com.pk/thenews/apr2009-weekly/us-24-04-2009/p5.htm#1]