Flower Festival in Thailand - the legend and peculiarities of the holiday

In early February, when our latitudes are frosty, the nature of Thailand delights by its beauty and diversity of flowers growing there. And it is in February that Thais and visitors to the kingdom rush to Chiang Mai, the city where one of the most colorful festivals in the world, comparable to the Japanese sakura blossom festival - the festival of flowers.

Why February, you may wonder? The answer is simple. Thailand's climate is different from ours, and in February the cool season ends and the hot season begins. So this is the time when thousands of tropical flowers bloom throughout the kingdom. And in order to complement the exotic beauty with temperate flowers, gardeners plant them in advance and provide them with extra care.

 Legend of the Thai Flower Festival

The city of Chiang Mai, which translates as "many flowers," has always been famous for its abundance and variety of flowers.

According to legend, long ago it was called the "Rose of the North". And on the territory of the city has always grown the most beautiful flowers in the kingdom. Therefore, it is even surprising that the famous festival of flowers in Thailand has only recently emerged. For the first time the festival was held in 1977, and then the local authorities did not even plan to make this event annual.

But the festival was a great success, so since then, at the beginning of February, thousands of tourists travel to Chiang Mai to participate in this amazing celebration.

 Modern Flower Festival

Now the festival of flowers - includes the following stages:

1. Choosing the most beautiful girl at the party;
2. Concerts and entertainment;
3. All sorts of flower contests;
4. A parade of flowers through downtown and the historic part of the city;
5. Exhibitions and sales of plants for the garden, indoor flowers and other ornamental crops.

The festival usually lasts for three days, from Friday to Sunday. All the main streets are blocked for the duration of the festival, and the long procession of parade participants stops traffic almost throughout the center of the city. But Thai drivers do not complain, because on this day, the provincial northern town is transformed, becoming a real tropical paradise.

All entertainment begins in the early morning and ends by midnight. Every tourist is free to take pictures of the procession, or even join the crowd of men, women, and children marching through the city dressed with garlands of fresh flowers. Therefore, at this time the city is full of visitors who book hotel rooms a few weeks before the festival to spend the three days in the kingdom of flowers, buying floral wreaths and decorations, and having fun with the locals.

The floral arrangements made by local gardeners are striking in their diversity. The most popular motifs are various mythical creatures, geometric patterns, plant and animal ornaments, images of Buddha and the King of Thailand. As for the flowers themselves, at the festival you can find more than 200 varieties. Asters, orchids, roses, lilies and carnations of incredible colors are becoming more exquisite and unusual every year.

Beauty contest

But despite all the variety of flower arrangements, which dazzle the festival of flowers in Thailand, a kind of highlight of the festival is still a beauty contest. Each contestant wears a traditional Thai costume, which is usually sewn especially for this event, and adorns herself with tropical flowers.

The judges who give one of the girls the opportunity to win the title "Miss Flower Festival."The spectators themselves become the judges. Judging takes place on the second day of the festival, from lunch until nighttime. During the competition guests are offered delicious cheap food and beer.

As you can see, the festival clearly demonstrates the talents of Thai gardeners and the love of all locals for flowers, which accompany all the tragic and happy moments in their lives. Thai Flower Festival will not leave indifferent any tourist who came to admire the exoticism of this tropical kingdom.

 Useful information about the Flower Festival

• The opening of the festival begins Saturday morning at 8:00;

• The parade route lines up from the east of the city, along Charoen Muang Street, crossing the Nawarat Bridge to the railway station;

• During the procession, the parade often stops, giving tourists the opportunity to take pictures and enjoy the variety, beauty, and splendor of the festivities