Festival of the Flowers

Infobox Holiday
holiday_name=
Festival of the Flowers
"Feria de las Flores"



caption=Silleteros parade 2007 version.
official_name="Feria de las Flores
nickname=
observedby=
date=Independence of Antioquia Department from Spain
date2007=August 3 through August 12.
celebrations=Flower exposition, parades, parties, orchestas, pageants among others.
longtype=Local, cultural
type=local folklor
significance=Homnage the "Silleteros" and celebrate Independence from Spain.
relatedto=

Festival of the Flowers ( _es. Feria de las Flores) is a festival that takes place in the Colombian city of Medellín. The festival is the most important social event for the city and features the Silleteros Parade, a pageant, automobiles, a Paso Fino horse parade and many musical concerts. [ [http://www.elcolombiano.com/proyectos/feriaflores/eventosimportantes/historiadeaferia.htm es icon El Colombiano; The Festival, a tradition that vibrates in Medellín] ]

History

The first Festival of the Flowers took place on May 1, 1957 and was organized by Arturo Uribe, a member of the Board of the Office of Development and Tourism. The festival lasted for 5 days with an exposition of flowers displayed in the Metropolitan Cathedral, which was organized by the Gardening Club of Medellín and monsignor Tulio Botero to celebrate Virgin Mary day. The first Silleteros Parade also took place with some 40 men from the "corregimiento" of Santa Elena carrying on their backs flower arrangements to the exposition site. [ [http://www.elcolombiano.com/proyectos/feriaflores/eventosimportantes/historiadeaferia.htm es icon El Colombiano; The Festival, a tradition that vibrates in Medellín] ] [ [http://feriadelasflores.lopaisa.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28 es icon Lopais.com; by the path of the silleteros] ]

The festival initially took place during the month of May but was changed to August in 1958 to celebrate the Independence of Antioquia. Since then other events have been added like the International Pageant of the Flowers, the cavalcade, Guiness Records in 1996 and 1999, classic automobiles parade, Orchids exposition, among others. [ [http://www.elcolombiano.com/proyectos/feriaflores/eventosimportantes/historiadeaferia.htm es icon El Colombiano; The Festival, a tradition that vibrates in Medellín] ]

2006 edition

In 2006 during its 49th edition, the festival reached 482 "silleteros" participants. [ [http://www.elcolombiano.com/proyectos/feriaflores2006/ es icon El Colombiano; In Medellín the feast was with the "silleteros"] ] The 2006 edition also featured a new category of "silleteros" as spokeswomen for the Convention Center Bureau of Medellín Maria Isabel Lopez mentioned "these are the Pioneers, who will show all their "Silletas" making experience, but will not participate in the contest". [ [http://www.elcolombiano.com/proyectos/feriaflores2006/historias/desfiles/silleteros.htm Medellín, a Carpet of flowers with the "silleteros"] ] Some 50 peasants will carry the "silletas" 260 featuring traditional arrangements, 50 with commercial propaganda and 28 from the new Pioneer category. As in Previous years the Mayor of Medellín sponsored the awards of the "Silleteros" contest. In 2006 there were a total of 26 awards, selected and given by three juries. [ [http://www.elcolombiano.com/proyectos/feriaflores2006/historias/desfiles/silleteros.htm Medellín, a Carpet of flowers with the "silleteros"] ]

References

External links

*es icon [http://www.feriadelasfloresmedellin.gov.co/ Festival of the Flowers official website]