Often regarded as a symbol of love, life and resurrection, flowers play an important part in the lives of each of us, even if we don’t always admit it. Fortunately in some parts of the world, people acknowledge the power and importance of flowers and even hold events in their honor. Here are the world’s 6 most beautiful flower festivals.

Feria de las Flores (Medellin, Colombia)

Medellin, a city known not too long ago as the headquarters of Pablo Escobar, the most notorious drug-lord that ever lived, is now internationally famous thanks to Feria de las Flores, one of the greatest horticultural events on Earth.

Known also as The Flower Festival of Medellin, Feria de las Flores began in the mid 1950s, as an inspiration to the flower-growers in the area. Back then it was just a few locals parading small floral arrangements through the down-town area of Medellin, but it has come a long way, and now it’s a week-long festival in which huge, intricate arrangements called Silletas are carried around the city.

Held between July 28 until August 7, Feria de las Flores attracts more and more tourists every year. They come to admire the beautiful Silletas and to have fun at the street parties held ever day of the festival.

Medellin is located in the flower heartland of Colombia, a country that supplies more than 70% of the flowers in the US.

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Pasadena Rose Parade (Pasadena, USA)

Known also as the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Pasadena Rose Parade is a fun-filled celebration, dating back to 1890.

The festivities always take place on January 1, unless that falls on a Sunday, in which case everything happens on January 2^nd. This strange rule has its roots in the early days of the parade, when it was instituted to “to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services.”

The Pasadena Rose Parade was born when the people, who came here from both East and West coasts, wanted to show they’re paradise climate to the entire world. The best way they could think of was to initiate a parade to showcase their flower-covered carriages.

In the following years marching bands and beautifully decorated floats were added, and nowadays a popular college football game is broadcast, to finance the entire event. The theme-floats can only be decorated with natural materials (flowers, plants, tree-bark, seaweed, etc) and they remain on display at least 1 and a half days after the Rose Parade has ended.

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Madeira Flower Festival (Funchal, Portugal)

As spring settles in and the flowers start to bloom, releasing their incredible perfume, Madeira hosts its biggest tourist attraction, the Flower Festival.

Held in April of every year, in Funchal, the capital of Madeira Island, The Flower Festival invites tourists from all over the world to enjoy four intense, fun days they will surely never forget. Flower arrangements fill all shops and houses, and the city streets are covered by long, aromatic flower carpets.

The highlights of the Madeira Flower Festival are the Children’s parade (held on the first day), the main parade, when tens of flower-decorated floats and costume-dancers make their way through the streets of Funchal, and the “Wall of Hopes”, a wall decorated with flowers by children, in hope for a peaceful, better world.

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The Flower Carpet (Brussels, Belgium)

Once every two years, the Grand Palace in Brussels hosts an event unique in the world. Flower specialists from cities like Gent, come together to create a giant flower carpet out of roughly 700,000 begonias.

Every time, the pattern of the flower carpet is different. For example, in 2008, it was inspired by 18^th century carpets. The begonia flower carpet was on display from August 14 until August 17. For those of you that missed this extraordinary event, the next one will take place in August 2010.

Begonias come in a wide range of colors and they are resistant to the scorching sun, which makes them the perfect flowers for the job. The fragranced flower carpet is best admired from the balcony of the City Hall, open t the public for this occasion.

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Chiang Mai Flower Festival (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

The first weekend in February is a very special one in Chiang Mai. All of Thailand’s beautiful flowers are in bloom and the city streets are filled with their perfume.

Northern Thailand is famous for the variety of flowers and plants growing here, and during the Chiang Mai Flower Festival, tourists have the chance to see all of them in floral arrangements made by the locals, or on the intricate floats showed-off during the parade.

With more than 3,000 types of orchids on display and many other species of chrysanthemums and other blooming plants, it’s easy to understand why Chiang May has been dubbed “Rose of the North” and is considered a paradise for flower enthusiasts.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3

Panagbenga Flower Festival (Baguio, Philippines)

Panagbenga means “season of blooming” and began as a tribute to the flowers of the city and a way to re3cover from the Luzon earthquake that ravaged the area in 1990.

Unlike any of the other popular flower festivals, Panagbenga is a month-long, with peak-points on the weekends. The streets are filled with giant flower-decorated floats and street dancers that pay homage to the beautiful flowers Baguio is world-famous for.

The Panagbenga Flower Festival was first held in 1995, but it soon became internationally known, and tourists started coming-in from everywhere around the world. Now it is an important destination on the Philippines tourism map and it also gives younger generations a chance to discover the traditions of old.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3

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