Battle of Flowers

The Jersey Battle of Flowers is an annual carnival held in the Channel Island of Jersey in the second week of August. The festival consists of music, funfairs, dancers, majorettes and a parade of flower floats alongside various street entertainers. It was inaugurated in 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of Edward VII. The largest attendance to date is thought to be that of 1969, when 60,000 people were present [ [http://www.battleofflowers.com/ Battle of Flowers] ] .

The major floats are usually produced by the parishes of Jersey. Miss Battle of Flowers, the overall winner of the Miss Parish contests, rides on her own specially made float. There was also formerly a Maid of Honour who rode with the Miss Battle but this has now been dropped. The tradition of having a "Mr Battle" to escort Miss Battle was in abeyance for a number of years, but Kyran Bracken revived the rôle in 2007 and 2008 will see Christopher Biggins occupying the role.

The 'Battle' itself originally consisted of dismantling the floats to provide floral ammunition for a literal battle of flowers between participants and spectators, but this aspect has long been abandoned. Since 1989, a nighttime Moonlight Parade with the floats festooned in lights has been introduced. The Moonlight parade ends with a large fireworks display.

The event has recently been the target of much criticism over fears that the transportation of foreign and exotic flowers to the island is unnecessarily increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Prizes

Prizes are awarded in numerous categories, with their names in French, for floats of different sizes and types.

2007

Winners at the 2007 Battle included [Jersey Evening Post 10 August 2007] :

* Prix d'Honneur: St. Clement
* Prix d'Excellence: The Optimists Club
* Grand Prix des Paroisses: Trinity
* Grand Prix des Fleurs: Rob, Adrian and Friends
* Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath and Friends
* Prix de Mérite: John Le Cornu Family and Friends

2006

Winners at the 2006 Battle included [ [http://www.battleofflowers.com/ Battle of Flowers] ] :

* Prix d'Honneur: St. Clement
* Prix d'Excellence: The Optimists Club
* Grand Prix des Paroisses: Trinity
* Grand Prix des Fleurs: Mary Bidan and Friends
* Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath and Friends
* Prix de Mérite: Grouville Too

2005

Winners at the 2005 Battle included:

* Prix d'Honneur: The Optimists Club
* Prix d'Excellence: St. Clement
* Grand Prix des Paroisses: Grouville
* Grand Prix des Fleurs: Mary Bidan and Friends
* Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath Family and Friends
* Prix de Mérite: Optimists Juniors

References

External links

* [http://www.battleofflowers.com/ Official Battle of Flowers website]
* [http://www.thisisjersey.com/code/showarticle.pl?ArticleID=000447 2004 event results]