Maine Maple Sunday - sap buckets,
courtesy of the Greenville Inn
Those of us in New England are not too thrilled with the Groundhog at this point – we’re thinking spring may never come with yet another foot of snow on the ground… However, things are looking up, as spring began today at 7:02 a.m. EST with the vernal equinox. From Latin, the word equinox means “equal night” with days and nights being approximately equal everywhere. Spring brings increased daylight, warmer temperatures, and plants begin to bloom once again. Well, at least that’s what’s supposed to happen…??
Maine Maple Sunday - boiling kettles, courtesy of the Portland Press Herald
In the meantime, we’re looking forward to a springtime activity for which New England is known worldwide – maple sugaring! Our friends at Downeast Magazine sent a reporter out last year on Maine Maple Sunday to sample as many maple sugar shacks’ offerings as she could, so we’re sharing their article here for a fun read. And if you’re in and around Maine, you can discover Maine Maple Sunday for yourself on March 24th!
Maine Maple Sunday - pancakes,
courtesy of Maine Today Media
Maine Maple Sunday is an annual event where maple syrup producers throughout Maine allow visitors to sample their offerings (often free!) and enjoy discovering how the golden goodness is created. The syrup is created essentially by boiling the sap of the maple trees, and it can vary from being dark and rich to pale gold and delicate, depending on the soil, terrain and weather, making it similar to wine in that respect. In addition to the samples, visitors can also enjoy extras such as wagon rides and more! You can find out where to go by viewing this map of the various maple producers who are participating.
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