Murasaki Hanami 紫花見 ("Purple Petal Viewing")
Cultural event
29th Day of the Third Month
At the end of the third month, the benibasumomo 紅葉李 ("cherry plums") begin to bloom, dying the cities of Yamato in beautiful pink colors. The first day of the blooming is celebrated by droves of people putting up blankets in parks, bringing out their murasaki moths to fly about (as they eat the flowers in spring) and spread their fragrant moth dust around. There the people usually picnic and drink. While the bloom lasts for around two months, it is the approximate first day that is considered a national feast day, and many song, dance and archery performances are usually attached to it.
