春から初夏の陽気になりそうな今日この頃。
都内の桜は今週末がいよいよ見頃です。
春は花の季節。それは日本だけではありません。
他の国ではどのように春の訪れを祝うのでしょうか。
世界各国の伝統ある春の行事を紹介しましょう！
英題は
The Most Festive Ways To Celebrate Spring All Over The World.
Everything is in full bloom this season and it’s evident around the globe. Here are all the beautiful traditions and festive happenings this season.
be in full bloom＝満開になる。
evident＝明らかだ
the globe＝地球
まずは日本。一番目に紹介されるなんて嬉しいですね！
＜Japan＞
In the Spring in Japan, you will find the prettiest and most spectacular sites with the Cherry Blossom Festival. Japanese people anticipate the spring especially for this reason. The tradition of Hanami comes with the season bringing peace and community spirit throughout the island. People enjoy festive picnics under the trees and time spent in the shaded sun. Cherry Blossoms begin to bloom come the end of March, just in time for April flowers. Japan is the place to be during this time and the tourists flock here because of it.
prettiest＝もっとも愛らしい
spectacular＝目を見張るほど美しい
anticipate＝期待する
festive picnics＝野外での宴
flock＝群をなす
日本語訳：
日本の春といえば、桜まつりです。もっとも美しく華やかな光景を目にするでしょう。日本人は特にこの季節に思い入れがあります。花見の伝統は平和と協調の精神をもたらしてくれるのです。桜は3月の終わりに咲き始め、ちょうど4月に満開になります。この時期、多くの観光客で賑やかになるのは、そうこの桜のためなのです。
＜United States＞
Though not Japan, Washington D.C. has a cherry blossom bloom and so this tradition takes place in the United States, too. The festivities begin in the middle of March and the trees bloom for up to four weeks. They have everything from an opening ceremony to tents along the water for beautiful pictures, and even artwork, and foods to eat.
＜Machu Picchu, Peru＞
This historic and beautiful place is a popular place to see in the spring because of the spring/vernal equinox that is seen. You can climb the mountain to reach the Intihuatana Stone that was created by the Incas and used as a solar clock. During the equinoxes, the shadow disappears for a brief second before reappearing. This occurred due to the size of the clock and to inform people it was the start of a new season.
vernal equinox=春分
the Intihuatana Stone＝インティワタナストーン
太陽をつなぎとめる石という意味だそうです。
日本語訳：
この歴史的な美しい場所マチュピチュは春分の日こそ多くの人が訪れます。山を登り
インカの人々によって建てられた日時計インティワタナストーンにたどり着きましょう。春分のその日に影が数秒間一切消えてしまうそう。これにより人は季節の変わり目を知るのですね。最古の天文観測機と言えるでしょう。
Australia
Australia’s springtime festival is a grand floral display called The Floriade. It began in 1988 and became an annual celebration. This world class festival is spectacular and with more than one million blooms and a month long festival complete with music, horticultural workshops, artistic displays, cultural celebrations, entertainment, and recreational activities. Springtime happens during September and October in Australia, so that’s when they celebrate the festival.
the Floriade＝フロリアード
annual＝毎年の
spectacular＝壮観な
horticultural＝園芸の
France
The Foir de Paris, also known as the Paris Fair, takes place in April and May. This fair is known for being a place to discover the latest innovations, unusual inventions, interior design trends, and creative products. This festival is huge. It takes place at the Porte de Versailles and will take an entire day, if not two, to explore.
The Foir de Paris＝パリフェス
take place＝行われる
the latest＝最新の
innovation＝発明品
the Porte de Versailles ＝ポルト・ド・ヴェルサイユ（見本市会場）
日本語訳：
パリフェスとして知られるThe Foir de Parisは4月５月に開かれます。このフェスでは、最新の発明品、珍しい機械、インテリアデザインなどが展示されます。規模はとても大きくポルト・ド・ヴェルサイユという見本市会場で盛大に開かれます。
Russia
Russians like to celebrate with pancakes and they even call it ‘Pancake Week’ or Maslenitsa. This traditional folk holiday symbolizes the end of winter. The delicious pancakes of the festival are also called bliny and are Russia’s version of pancakes and crepes. To them, these foods resemble the sun. This holiday comes from Pagan roots dating back to 500 AD and were then adopted by Christians. At this festival you can find pancakes, obviously, but surprisingly you will also find fist fighting. Even more unexpected, you will find performing bears, bonfires, and sled rides.
Bosnia
The festival of Bosnia revolves around eating scrambled eggs. The festival is known as ‘Festival of Scrambled Eggs” or “Cimburijada.” It takes place in a city park on the banks of the Bosna River in the town of Zenica. Thousands come for the festival every March as Spring begins. The egg is a symbol of new life as the season starts. The eggs are cooked in huge pots and then handed out to hungry festival goers. This tradition dates back a few hundred years and visitors from around the world come to visit during this time.
revolve＝伴う、関わる
goer＝行き交う人
date back＝遡る
日本語訳：
ボスニアのお祭りといえばスクランブルエッグです。「スクランブルエッグ祭り」というお祭りはゼニツァのボスナ川の土手にある公園で開催されます。卵は季節のはじめ、命の始まりの象徴です。卵は大きな鍋で調理され、来訪者にふるまわれます。2〜300年続くこの伝t区的なお祭りは世界中の人を惹きつけます。
India
Starting on the night of the full moon, the Hindu celebration of Holi welcomes the coming of spring. The nights festivities start with Holika Dhan where families burn an effigy in tradition and honor. In the morning, Rangwali Holi starts and residents go out to the streets with colored powder and water. The festivities are colorful, messy, and fun.
It’s been raining forever now and spring is basically here. These festive and fun ways to celebrate it worth checking out and enjoying.
日本語訳：
満月の夜に始まるヒンズー教のお祭りで、春を歓迎するものです。伝統的に敬意を払い彫像を燃やしてスタートです。Rangwali Holiというお祭りでは人々は体をカラフルに水と粉で塗りたくり、出かけます。とにかくカラフルではちゃめちゃなお祭りです。雨が続くことで春の到来を察します。
