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National Cherry Blossom Festival - The festival celebrates the cherry trees gifted to the United States by Tokyo City mayor Ozaki Yukio in 1912.

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Cherry tree - The cherry blossom is seen as a symbol of the beauty and brevity of life in Japanese culture.

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Cherry blossoms - The cherry blossom trees that bloom every year around the Tidal Basin and Washington Monument include weeping Japanese cherry trees, Sargent cherry trees, and Usuzumi and Autumn Flowering cherry trees.

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Japanese lantern -

A 300-year-old Japanese stone lantern was given to Washington, D.C. in 1954 to honor the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace, Amity and Commerce between the US and Japan. The lighting of the lantern kicks off the festival.

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National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade - Festivities include a parade, fireworks, and many other themed activities.

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National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade - The parade runs for 10 blocks along Constitution Avenue and includes floats, marching bands, performers, and giant balloons.

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National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade - There are performances from local schools and dance groups.

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Original idea - Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, a board member of the National Geographic Society, initially suggested that cherry blossom trees be planted along the Potomac in 1885.

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First donation - The first Japanese donation didn't arrive until 1909, however the 2,000 trees that were delivered had to be destroyed due to disease and pests.

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Second donation - The replacement gift arrived in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. There are currently just a few dozen left of the 3,000 original trees still blooming in the nation's capital.

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Somei-Yoshino variety - About 1,800 of the cherry blossom trees donated by Japan are Somei-Yoshino blossoms and were planted around the Tidal Basin.

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Other varieties - There are currently 11 total varieties of cherry blossom trees growing in D.C.

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Yoshino and Kwanzan varieties - Most of the trees growing today are of the Yoshino and Kwanzan varieties and live between 20 and 30 years on average. Yoshino cherries have single, white blossoms, whereas Kwanzans have double, pink blooms. Kwanzans bloom two weeks after Yoshinos.

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Another gift - The United States received yet another donation of 3,800 cherry blossom trees in 1965 in honor of First Lady Bird Johnson's efforts to beautify America.

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Peak bloom -

The trees typically stay in bloom for two weeks, and are considered to be in peak bloom when 70% of flowers have opened.

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Blooms - There are around 3,720 cherry blossoms growing annually around Washington Monument, East Potomac Park, and the Tidal Basin.

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Visitors - Visitors can complete a two-mile walk around the property to witness the beautiful cherry blossoms.

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Preservation - In 2011, 120 trees were sent back to Japan to preserve their genetic line. The gift also reinforced the friendship between the nations.

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Maintenance - Trees are cared for and maintained by the National Park Service, and their efforts ensure a long lifespan for the blossoms. When trees die, they are replaced with trees bought from local nurseries and farms.

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Marriage among the blossoms - It is possible to obtain a permit to hold a wedding service beneath the cherry blossoms.

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Inspiration - The cherry trees provide inspiration for artists all over the city and during the festival, painters and photographers create and sell their unique works of art.

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Strict laws - It is against the law to pick the cherry blossoms. Origami cherry blossom seminars are offered in an attempt to deter tourists from picking them.

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Blossom Kite Festival - Paul E. Garber, founder of the National Air and Space Museum, founded the Blossom Kite Festival in 1967. Events include kite crafts and battles.

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Protest - In 1938, a group of women strapped themselves to trees to protest workers from cutting them down in an attempt to make space for the Jefferson Memorial. Although the trees were ultimately cut down to build the memorial, city officials compromised by planting more along the Basin.

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Neighborhood Tree Planting Program - The festival reaches out to the community with the Neighborhood Tree Planting Program, whose purpose is to plant new trees throughout the city every year.

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Festival suspension - Throughout World War II, the festival was suspended and the trees were renamed "Oriental" flowering trees. It was reinitiated in 1947.

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Mysterious event - In 1941, four trees were mysteriously chopped down. It was thought that someone had cut them down in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

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Gift exchange -

The United States didn't just accept the cherry blossom trees as a gift, they also returned the gift by sending dogwood trees back to Japan.

See also: Japan's cherry blossom season has arrived

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