On June 5 Bulgarian towns of Karlovo and Kazanlak host one of the most colourful festivals in the world – Festival in the Valley of Roses.
The Valley of Roses is not a geographic name for the region, but a concept associated with the place where oil-yielding roses grow. The spot is located in a very centre of Bulgaria at the foot of the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina), between towns of Karlovo and Kazanlak.
Fragrant holiday begins nearby rose plantations with a harvesting ritual of first rose petals for wreaths.
Then the feast is transferred to the city where cultural program begins – the performance of folk bands, mummers parade, master classes, exhibitions of artists and photographers, as well as concerts of young performers.
Alfresco artisans made colourful pitchers, weave carpets and treat guests with freshly baked scones. All the attractions are open to visitors these days.
One of the highlights of the festival is a Queen of Roses contest. With music accompaniment, festival parade participants walk along the main streets of Kazanlak and Karlovo dressed in costumes of Roman, Thracian and Greek times. A special group of guys carries on a throne-shaped stretcher elected Queen of Roses wearing a wreath. She showers petals upon visitors. The celebration ends late night with round dance.
Winter trout festival in Hwacheon-gun is the beautiful place to enjoy winter fishing. Every year thousands of tourists come there to eat fish and relax sledging.
The citizens of Spain admire festivals where they can look at others and show their advantages. It is worth to recall at least their numerous battles with food including La Tomatina as one of the most famous ones. However, at the festival El Cascamorras nobody throws food. Instead, people out stains onto themselves with oily substance and try to stain others.
Ice-cream in Italy meets a ready market, especially its local kind called as gelato. Italians love and appreciate gelato so much that they would not mind dedicating the entire festival to this dessert.
Harbin city is the capital of Heilongjiang province located in Northeast China. During the long winter months, the temperature here may reach -20 degree. These days International Ice Festival is held.
Today in the American city of Gilroy, California starts the festival for "those who love it hot" – foodies from all over the world gather here to pay homage to His Majesty Garlic.
Between mountains and the Mediterranean Sea south-eastward from Barcelona, Catalan city Sitges is located. Having been under dictatorship of General Franco, it was, after all, the only place in Spain where counterculture throve. The city gained the character of bohemian one at the end of XIX century when there painter Santiago Rusiñol used to reside and work. Nowadays Sitges is known for popular beaches and living night life.
Certainly, among the kindest festivals also considered as the most joyful ones in the world we may recall those, which founders were children. Sapporo Snow Festival or Festival of Snow Statues in Sapporo should be numbered among such festivals.
