Scottish festivals all of them

Burns Night – 25th January 
The anniversary of the birth of the poet Robert Burns, in 1759 at which many a "Burns Supper" is consumed and the "Immortal Memory", a speech in praise of the Bard, will be given.


 Burns Night – 25th January 
The anniversary of the birth of the poet Robert Burns, in 1759 at which many a "Burns Supper" is consumed and the "Immortal Memory", a speech in praise of the Bard, will be given.



Hunt the Gowk - 1st April
On this day people would play tricks and tell lies to catch each other out. But the jokes had to stop at mid-day. Now called April Fool's Day, hunting the gowk was originally sending someone on a foolish errand.
"Dinna laugh, an' dinna smile
But hunt the gowk another mile"


The sounds of scotland hymns of celebration

Preen-tail Day or Tailie Day - 2nd April
The day following All Fool's Day when paper tails were attached to the backs of unsuspecting people as a joke.


Beltane's Day - 1st May 
A pagan fire festival which goes back to pre-Christian times - originating with Baal in Phoenicia. It was supposed to encourage the crops to grow. There has been a holiday at the start of May in many parts of Scotland for centuries. Young girls would also rise early to wash their faces in the May dew. The custom of lighting fires at this time has come through in place names such as Tarbolton in Ayrshire ("tor" meaning hill and "bolton" from "Beltane"). The ancient Druidic Fire Festival has been revived by "New Age" followers who gather on the historic Calton Hill in Edinburgh.


Scottish festival tshirts


Empire Day/Victoria Day - 24th May
Flags were flown from public buildings and schools decorated classrooms with flags of the British Empire. The name was changed to Commonwealth Day. The nearest Monday to 24th May was a local trades holiday in many parts of Scotland to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday and the tradition has continued long after Queen Victoria's reign.

 Michaelmas Day - 29th September
St Michael was the patron saint of the sea and sailors and his saint's day was celebrated in the West of Scotland in particular. In the island if Barra, a bannock was baked from the first grain of the year and eaten on St Michael's day. Everyone was given a piece to eat.




All Souls Day - 2nd November
Prayers were said for the souls of the dead and alms given to the poor.


Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night – 5th November
Recalling the attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament with 20 barrels of gunpowder in 1605. Bonfires, fireworks and "penny for the guy" (an effigy of Guy Fawkes, providing an excuse for children to plead for money from passers-by). This is not a specifically Scottish festivity - it is UK wide but it took place shortly after the Union of the Crowns when King James VI of Scotland became king of England and Wales also.

Classic sounds of Scottish festival music

 

HOPE GARDENS JAMAICA

When did this lovely garden established? Well it was in 1873 History: In 1881, two hundred (200) acres of Hope Estate was purchased by the Government to establish an experimental garden. Fifty (50) acres of the land was devoted to the development and distribution of new varieties of sugar cane, and ten (10) acres for planting teak, Liberian Coffee
The Royal Botanical Gardens, commonly called "Hope Gardens", occupies 200 acres of land in the Ligunaea Plains of urban St Andrew. The gardens were established in 1873 on a section of land from the estate of Major Richard Hope, one of the original English colonisers who arrived with the invading force of Penn and Venables.

Jamaica travel guide for visitors




Local Flavour: 
Most of the plants and trees, particularly the mango and various spice species found here and in the gardens at Bath, originally came from a captured French ship on its way from Mauritius to Hispaniola in 1782. It is still highly unclear as to where exactly the plants went, but we do know that the Receiver General, one Mr Hinton East, owned and operated a garden near to the gardens at Hope. Since all cargo entering the country had to pass through his hands and be cleared by his office, it is not surprising that years after the fact, the whole collection was deposited in Mr East's garden which later was transplanted to the Hope Estate.

If you're looking to have a peaceful day without leaving Kingston, Hope Botanical Gardens and Zoo is the place for you.
The Hope Botanical Gardens, also known as the Royal Botanical Gardens

jamaican folklore and poet


Famous For: 
There are many rare and beautiful species of tropical plants and trees at the Royal Botanical Gardens, including the Hibiscus elatus (blue mahoe), the national tree of Jamaica. Blue mahoe is a small spreading tree with flowers that open in primrose colour in the morning and change to orange and deep red as the day advances.

The Jamaican people story

The northern end of the Gardens houses the Hope Zoo, which showcases a wide variety of local and foreign animals. The last I checked, there was easily 40 different types of animals, and the grounds were extremely well kept.

It is currently the largest botanical gardens in the Caribbean.

The Gardens and Zoo are located on Old Hope Rd., which is about 30 minutes from the Norman Manley International Airport, and a few minutes drive from the University of the West Indies. The area is known for having some of the most productive soil in the country, but unfortunately, this area has been used for mostly residential and commercial development.

How to love a Jamaican

At the north end of the gardens, there is a large beautiful lake with a restored ancient bridge over it. This lake is filled with water lilies and other stunning water plants.
Just above that, there's a small amphitheater stage that hosts local cultural events. This stage has hosted Jamaican cultural greats such as Louise Bennett-Coverley and Damian ‘Jr. Gong' Marley, who performed there as a child.

The rise of the hardcore dancehall Jamaican music

Towards the center of the gardens, there is an interesting natural maze. The walls of this maze are made by shrubs that were planted and groomed into this puzzle design. As a child, I had endless fun trying to find my way out.

Today the gardens are the largest public green space in the Kingston metropolitan region, and are home to Jamaica's most popular collection of endemic and exotic botanical collections. Of particular interest is the Cassia siamea grove by the main entrance, which was planted in 1907, and the other mini-gardens within the park - notably the cacti garden, with its rare varietals; the bougainvillea walk with its magnificent explosions of tropical colours; the annual gardens, with numerous species of exotic flowers; the sunken gardens and the lily pond.

The places to go and see cherry blossoms in bloom

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York

 

It is famous for its spectacular and vibrant tulips in the spring, but it’s also home to 42 different species of cherry blossom trees, The different species take turns blooming from late-March to mid-May. However, if you want to join the celebration, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden throws a popular cherry blossom festival, called Sakura Matsuri, usually during the last weekend in April.

Throughout most of Japan, blooming typically occurs in late March and early April. Some areas may produce blooms as early as January. The emergence of the first blossoms is called kaika – this emergence of flowers in usually what is indicated by the bloom forecasts. The peak, or mankai – the time when the most trees are in full bloom – occurs within about one week of emergence. In some years, the season extends into the month of May in the northern regions.

USA cherry blossom goods

  Japan

From Okinawa to Hokkaido, cherry blossom season in Japan is magical. The Japanese view the short-lived blossoms as a reminder of the impermanence of beauty and life — a bittersweet and poetic symbol that reached its peak during the hanami (a.k.a. flower-viewing) season following the devastating 2011 earthquake. In Hokkaido, expect a double dose of blossoms, as the plum and cherry trees tend to flower at the same time. When to Go: Starting from the south, you can expect blossoms to start in early- to mid-March, while spots around Nagoya and Tokyo are typically two weeks behind. More northerly locations can hit full bloom as late as May, depending on weather.


Japanese cherry blossom goods



Japan cherry blossom lights

Longwangtang Cherry Blossom Park, China

 The oldest of China‘s cherry blossom trees are WWII-era beauties planted during the Japanese occupation of China from 1937 to 1945. Normally, the area where the trees are planted doesn’t offer much to look at, but come cherry blossom season, the dam becomes lined with gorgeous pink and white blooms, and the crowds follow. It’s one of the best spots in China to view blossoms, though folks can also experience them in more trafficked places like Shanghai. 

 Handmade classical cherry blossom chinese craft

 

Botanical Garden of Curitiba, Brazil 

 The trees at the Botanical Garden of Curitiba may have only been planted in the 1990s, but cherry trees are no stranger to this region in southern Brazil. About 110 years ago, when the Japanese began immigrating to Brazil, they brought along their cherished cherry blossom seedlings. (Fun fact: Brazil has the largest population of Japanese people outside of Japan.) 

 Japanese cherry blossom

 

Parc de Sceaux, France

 A day trip to these cherry tree orchards just six miles south of Paris is a must. Here, you’ll find two separate orchards — one with all pink-blossomed trees and another with 150 all white-blossomed trees. Be sure to bring your camera. However, if you can’t bring yourself to leave the City of Lights, stroll over to Parc du Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower to take in a few rows of blossoming trees.

 Bath and body works cherry blossom

 

Jerte Valley, Spain 

 If you want to welcome the spring in style, then head for the Jerte Valley, close to Cáceres (Extremadura). If you make it you will get to witness a real natural wonder. Each year, around the second fortnight in March, the cherry trees open their flowers, covering the mountainsides in impressive swathes of white. 

 cherry blossom on your skin

Take an unhurried stroll on the tracks and trails between the valley's villages. What better way to leave the winter behind and delight in the new season?

cherry blossom surrounding a church