As an unrepentant logophile (lover of words), I’ve assembled a list of unusual, obscure, or simply charming-to-me words. Ludic is defined as “playful, in an aimless way,” and that’s my plan for approaching this a-to-z challenge—keeping my feet on the joy trail and meandering wherever the daily word takes me.
Q is for…
quetch – to twitch or stir. Earliest documented use: 1150
I hear this word and can’t help but think of the magic of Spring. Underground stirring and new growth pushing its way out of the soil. Tree branches budding, and soon new leaves in that glorious luminous Spring yellow-green popping out. Everything feels like it is literally vibrating with awakening energy and life. As with much of the country, this Spring has been wildly unpredictable, and in my particular area, it has mostly been marked with below-average temperatures and lots of rain.
Flora, the Roman goddess of Spring and flowers, has been dallying in the wings, and things are late to blossom here. I’ve had to resort to florist-bought bouquets and indoor pots of forced bulbs to feed my flower addiction.
This won’t do! I see only one possibility – we must cheer up Mother Nature and encourage her to by creating our own version of Spring.
I always think of Cherry Blossom festivals as fabulous markers of Spring. Although the festivals have already passed in both Washington, DC, and most parts of Japan by now, Sapporo, the capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, still awaits the blossoming. Still, I’m beginning to think the cherry trees around here in Chicago might not blossom until July at this current rate. So, I’ve taken things into my own hands.
Through the alchemy of magic, let me present my own Cherry Blossom festival to you.
This beauty is courtesy of a vintage find – a Magic Cherry Tree novelty from the 1970s! I literally swooned when I found it. I remember as a kid growing “crystals” on a bit of string hung in a cup that was filled with a saline solution saturate. There was probably more to it than that, but my inner mini-me still squirms with delight, remembering how awesome it was. And so I suspected this Magic Cherry Tree would be equally wonderful, and yes, I believe it is. (I understand there are current iterations of these growing-crystal trees, but this vintage version has made my heart quite happy).
You stick the cardboard tree in a small container with water and a bit of solution, and in a few hours, the coated tips of the branches grow crystals. How fun is that?!
Konohana Sakuya Hime is the Japanese goddess associated with cherry blossoms (sakura). Cherry blossoms symbolize the transience of life with their ephemeral nature, which seems like a perfect reminder to celebrate all the magic around us. So I’ll spend a few minutes enjoying and appreciating my faux cherry blossoms AND remember that the joy of the actual blossoms is something to look forward to.
I hold these words of Hafiz close to my heart:
“Spring and all its flowers
now joyously break their vow of silence.
It is time for celebration, not for lying low:
You too – weed out those roots of sadness from your heart.”
Now, what about you? Has Spring (or autumn) planted itself firmly in your part of the world, or is there still some scurrying back and forth happening? Ever been to a Cherry Blossom Festival? Is there a special sign Spring has arrived for you? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
That is a pretty word!!!
It is!
Hari OM
Hmmm… unrelated, I suppose, to the Yiddish “kvetch” – to complain or agitate (yet similarities of shiftiness/restlessness methinks!) Spring has been laggy here, too, so finding the blooms I did for yesterday’s post was a true Easter gift. For Easter weekend, however, we are back into single-digit temps, whipping winds and hosepipe rain. Not that I’m kvetching, mind, for I’ve used the inside time to crochet like a fiend! The quetch of being enclosed for prolonged periods engenders productivity!!! YAM xx
It IS curious about the possible “kvetch” connection – language is so fascinating. I hope your indoor time is productive and fun, and you stay toasty warm.
LOVE cherry blossoms. A good variety of them grow in North Carolina where I am. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
Oh, that’s lovely, Samantha. They’re so magical.
The stirring of spring. Lovely!
Always a delight.
I was so excited by your word “quetch.” I want it to be part of everyday speech. It does have another meaning, “express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness” which would relate to “kvetch” in the comment above, but I like your interpretation better. I absolutely love your crystal tree. If it’s from the 70s, how do you supply your solution? I got a crystal growing kit a couple years ago. It was only 40% successful, but the ones that grew were fun.
We’ll have to do our part to get quetch back into common usage, Maria – I’m up for it.
The solution for the crystal tree was in a little sealed bag in the package. It apparently aged well. I’m glad your crystal-growing kit was at least partially successful – it sounds fun.
Spring is definitely here! The tulip festival is going to my north, the cherry blossoms at my alma Mater (University of Washington) are blooming and the world is a brighter place.
Making me smile, Margaret. Enjoy it all!
What a lovely post, and I loved the word quetch and your take on it. Returning your visit from A to Z. 🙂
Thanks for your kind words, and for visiting!
I don’t know if we’re having what will be spring for us in the future or just an early May gray. Although, the sun is out today.
Yay for visits from the sun – hoping Spring will get the idea it’s time to show up. 🙂
What a great theme for your A to Z, and what a great word for Q! Spring is fickle here in Utah; while today is sunny and the redbud tree is displaying all her glory, last week it snowed. I’d like to believe the temperatures are all uphill from here, but I’m not planting my garden yet.
Smart move about waiting on your garden – Spring can be such a trickster!
The blossoming cherry tree is delightful! I bet if you had cherry scented incense or essential oil it would enhance the experience also. I plan on buying a kit for my 4 year-old granddaughter.
I agree that’s a cool word and it’s been around awhile.
Good call, Lisa – a little Sakura incense wafting about would be perfect! And I bet your granddaughter will be delighted.
Beautiful and magical cherry blossoms! They convey the sense of transience so perfectly.
And btw, Quetch is such an interesting word…
Yes, all I can think of is “kvetch” for the word, but I do like your magic cherry tree. How wonderfully kitschy and cheerful, and scientific and enchanted.
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What a great word! I’d never heard it before but it makes absolute sense and sounds like what it means. I love when words do that.
– Allison
https://lightningflashwriting.blogspot.com/
I like that, too, Allison. Though I have to admit, I also like words that make you shake your head and wonder about how they came to mean that. I’m just hopeless – I really am a word lover.
Love the word for this letter. It makes me think of spring, too!
Ronel visiting for A-Z Challenge Queen of the Underworld: Hel & My Languishing TBR: Q #AtoZChallenge2025 #Books #Bookreview
Yes, there’s something fabulous about sensing the twitching of life ready to spring.
I love the spring blooms, beds of daffodils and tulips in peoples’ yards. We have some shade plants, lungwort and bleeding hearts that bloom in early spring so the foundation of our house and trees are covered in pink and blue blossoms. the blooms will pass by to make room for summer flowers, but the color popping out even when there’s no grass or leaves yet, is really beautiful.
Oh that sounds so lovely! Bleeding hearts are one of my favorites. I feel like a sponge during Spring, so ready to drink in every drop of color and beauty.