It all started way back in 1903, when the citizens of the town of Kazanlak organized the Rose Festival for the first time. It was dedicated not only to beauty and flowers, but also to charity. Rich exhibitions of roses and other flowers were prepared, as well as trips to the Shipka Monastery. Specially issued postcards with views of the Rose Valley with images of rose picking, traditional production of rose oil, etc. were sold. Funds were collected for poor families, old people, orphans and those suffering from tuberculosis.
In the 1930s, the event gained even greater national fame. With the launch of the Sub-Balkan line, special trains were composed during the Rose Festival to visit the Rose Valley. Special discounted tickets were issued, inviting citizens from different parts of Bulgaria to visit the rose picking in order to feel the unsurpassed aroma of the flowers.
Due to numerous circumstances, the celebration was stopped for a short time, but in 1966 the tradition was completely restored, and a special organizing committee was chosen for the purpose.
Over the years, the event has become a large-scale and colorful festival that is gaining popularity all over the world. Thousands of tourists visit Kazanlak to catch a glimpse of the numerous events and enjoy the countless activities. Some of the most impressive among them that you shouldn’t miss are:
The Rose Queen Competition
The Queen Rose Competition is a parade of the most beautiful and charming Kazanlak high school graduates, who are part of the town's pride and symbol. Traditionally, it marks the beginning of the Rose Festival. The performance is the most awaited event in Kazanlak for the year and gathers the most emotion from spectators and guests.
The annually elected Rose Queen is a guest at various forums in Kazanlak's sister cities on different continents and is a beautiful ambassador of Bulgaria to the world. She also leads the festive carnival procession, which is the culmination of the Rose Festival, on the first Sunday of June.
The Rose Picking and Rose Brewing Ritual
The Rose Picking and Rose Brewing Ritual is the annual central event for official guests and foreign tourists. Rose pickers in folk costumes, groups for authentic folklore, kukeri and dance groups sing and dance in the rose gardens and welcome guests to the celebration. In the fertile rose gardens of the surrounding villages, they invite everyone to pick from the flower of the gods - the oil-yielding Kazanlak rose, to taste rose jam, gyulovitsa and rose liqueur. People choose the most skillful rose picker, who receives a reward for her diligence from the owners themselves. Professional and self-made folklore ensembles recreate the Rose Picking and Rose Brewing rituals. The rose oil is boiled in the gyulpana, and the owners present guests with freshly produced rose water.
During the upcoming weekend, the locations are:
On June 1, 2024, Saturday at 9:30 a.m. the rose picking ritual will be in the village of Yasenovo, and on June 2, 2024, Sunday at 9:30 a.m. the rose picking ritual will be near Kazanlak. Note that there is a fee to participate.
Rosé Wine Festival
Between May 31 and June 2, 50 wineries from all the wine regions of Bulgaria will meet in one of the most enchanting and beautiful places in May - Kazanlak and the Valley of the Thracian Kings. The event will take place during the centuries-old agricultural festival associated with the production and processing of roses and will turn our senses to the art of winemaking. During the festival, you will meet many of the faces of Bulgarian wine, who’ll share their skills in making rosé wine with their thousands of fans from all over the world. It’s usually held in the chitalishte and the region around it. Entrance is free.
Festive carnival procession
More than 5,000 participants in a colorful carnival line will parade for an hour through the streets of Kazanlak, depicting different moments of the history and multifaceted culture of the Rose Valley. In the colorful carnival procession, the emblematic "nashentsi" from Chudomir's stories will also parade - the unsurpassed Kaka Siika, Bai Ganyo, Llying Sabi and other characters from the Rose Valley. The beautiful and cheerful crowd will be led by Queen Rose, her runners-up and the entourage of little Rose Princesses. Kukeri will drive away evil, and horsemen will guard the colorful ranks of the carnival procession. Representatives of various folklore formations in colorful strings of embroidery and traditional costumes will sing and dance.
This year it will be held on June 2.
Annual and decades-old events at the Rose Festival in Kazanlak also include the International Folklore Festival, the Mini Rose Queen and Miss Valley of the Roses contests, the photo exhibition of prominent photographers from Bulgaria and abroad, the Street of Crafts, the Children's Song Contests, the National dance competition, the National Zumba Marathon and many others.
A visit during the weekend is definitely worth it, especially since Kazanlak is about an hour and a half drive from the city under the hills and a great idea for a tour.
Photos: www.kazanlak.bg
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