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| Coloured paper bearing hopeful notes in the Yongkwa River. |
This past Thursday, 27 March, Yurtyzstan ended its celebration of the Blossom Festival and entered the new year.
On Thursday, the last day of the week-long festival, Yurtyzstanis gathered at Honggang to throw notes written on coloured paper into the Yongkwa River. Traditionally, these notes bear positive affirmations and wishes for the future, and help Yurtyzstanis to prepare themselves for an auspicious year.
Chairman of the Presidium J.J. Hakimoto promised new advances in his cultural development initiative after the festival. "The Blossom Festival marks the beginning of a new year for Yurtyzstanis. Therefore following this important occasion I will be presenting several recent developments in Yurtyzstani arts and culture," said Hakimoto near Honggang.
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| Leaves and melting snow near Yurtpyitaw. |
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| Heavy snow outside the Foreign Residence. |
Though the festival celebrates the beginning of spring, Yurtyzstan has experienced more heavy snow and freezing temperatures this weekend. Winter often effectively lasts well into April in Yurtyzstan, and snow has been observed as late as May.
