Lilac Sunday
About Lilac Sunday
When is Lilac Sunday? This holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday in May
You’re just going to love Lilac Sunday. It is perhaps the most fragrant of all flowers. It makes a popular and sought-after perfume. Many say its beauty is second only to the rose, and more than a few people see it as better than roses. So, it is only fitting that people around the world honor this beautiful flower today and attend one of the many Lilac flower festivals. Lilac bushes are native to cool mountainous hillside areas, from southern Europe to Asia. Beautiful and sweet-scented Lilac bushes arrived in the United States in the 1750s. Their popularity quickly soared.
Celebrate Lilac Sunday with hugely popular springtime festivals and special events. Annual Lilac flower festivals have been held for over a hundred years. The oldest and biggest festival of them all is at Highland Park in Rochester, NY. This festival has been held every year since 1905. The 10-day festival is a showcase for the world’s largest collection of lilac bushes, attracting over 500,000 visitors annually. The Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University in Boston, Ma. is also world known for its annual Lilac festival, held every year since 1908.
Celebrate Lilac Sunday by attending a Lilac festival near you. Or, just stroll in a park among the blooming lilac bushes.
Lilac Sunday Resources
How to Celebrate and Participate in Lilac Sunday
Ways to celebrate Lilac Sunday:
- Attend a Lilac Flower Festival.
- Plant a bush in your yard.
- Learn how to grow lilacs.
- Take the time to see these beautiful flowers and take in their fragrant aroma.
- If you have lilac bushes, cut some and bring them indoors for a fresh flower arrangement.
Did You Know? The flowers of the common lilac (syringa vulgaris) are edible. However, other parts of the bush are not edible.
Today's Quote
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is in God’s handwriting.” – – Ralph Waldo Emerson
History and Origin of Lilac Sunday
The first Lilac Sunday was held in Rochester, NY 1898. Over 3,000 people came to Highland Park on a Sunday to see the beautiful lilacs and take in their fragrant blooms. At the time, the number of bushes was just a fraction of what is in the park today.
More About Today
This Day in History – Indeed, many other important events occurred on this date in May. See what happened on this date in history.
Famous May Birthdays – Did you ever wonder what famous people share your birth date? If so, then find out now!
Ecards – Send a free Ecard daily for Lilac Sunday or just about any calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Undoubtedly, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Flower of the Day: Lilacs, of Course!
Recipe of the Day: Oven Roasted Garlic
Holiday Insights, where every day in May is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? Besides Lilac Sunday, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. Furthermore, many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. May holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.