Bulgarian city of Kazanlak opened its annual rose festival that will last until June 7, 2015. The Rose Festival is a 112-year-old tradition and one of the most notable holidays in Bulgaria. The festival was first held in 1903, and it has become a tradition to hold it the first weekend in June, since this is when the Kazanlak roses bloom.
The festival has become an international attraction that pulls thousands of people to Kazanlak during the period of the festival.
The town of Kazanlak is famous for growing a special type of rose and oil extraction industry. The Rosa Damascena, known as the Damask or Castile rose, is the treasure in the region of Kazanlak and considered to be one of the nation’s symbols. That is why at the beginning of the 19th century this rose was named the Kazanlak Damask rose and the valley to the south of the Central Balkans came to be known as the Valley of the Roses.
Today, the Bulgarian oil-bearing Damask rose is recognized as a unique type of rose that when extracted produces high quality rose oil. The rose oil produced from this Bulgarian rose is widely considered as the finest in the world.
No wonder that Bulgarians regard their rose so high that they devote a special celebration to it.
One of the festival’s traditions is the gathering of roses early in the morning by people dressed in traditional costumes. Folk dancers, singers and musicians perform in the fields.
The beauty contest is held among all Kazanlak girls graduating from high school that year to choose the Queen Rose.
The period of end of May – beginning of June is a wonderful time to visit Bulgaria, especially the famous Valley of Rose to enjoy the beauty and the aroma of the strong Bulgarian tradition. You can purchase the finest rose oil while there and bring it a special gift for the woman you love. There is hardly any woman who will resist the fragrance and romanticism of a rose.