Posted
on June 3, 2016
You
know that roses are important to Kazanlak, Bulgaria, when tourists
come from all over for their harvesting.... When scads of people dress up in traditional garb and wear rose leis and headdresses... When a Queen Rose is elected and rose
parades are held.
I
grew up in Pasadena, California, and we had the world-famous
Tournament of Roses as a New Year's tradition, with the Rose Bowl
football game and the lovely Rose Parade. These traditions are so
important to Pasadena that it is often called “The City of Roses.”
But
there is no particular reason to link Pasadena with roses, in
actuality. It has good weather, like all of Southern California, but
its weather isn't particularly amazing for growing roses – Portland, Oregon,
has much wetter weather that is ideal for roses.
On
the other hand, Kazanlak, Bulgaria, has a very good reason for
celebrating roses – it is located in the Valley of Roses, where the
Rosa Damascena is grown. This rose is the source of a treasured rose
oil that costs as much as gold.
The
rose oil is used for aromatherapy and in perfumes and even medicines.
It is used in the food industry, including as an herbal tea and as a
sort of treat when it is preserved in sugar. It is used to make rose
water. It is even used in the space industry as a greasing agent.
Kazanlak's
roses bloom for about 25 days a year. They are harvested by hand in
the morning, when their aroma is strongest. They are transported in
small quantities to a distillery, where the oil is harvested.
Kazanlak
has a Rose Research Institute where scientists have developed several
varieties that can take best advantage of the conditions in the
Valley of Roses. They send out seedlings to the rose farmers.
In addition to the ritual harvesting of roses, the parades, and the crowning of the Rose Queen, the Rose Festival has booths for rose products to be sold. And of course fun fair food that has nothing to do with roses!
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