La Feria de las Flores

The biggest week in Medellín’s social calendar is upon us and the city has gone into a flower infused frenzy. La Feria de las Flores or the Festival of Flowers is a week-long cultural event that first started in 1957 and involves impressive flower displays, parades, concerts and general flower-infused merriment. Colombians come from far and wide to see these attractions, indulge in a little bit of Colombia’s history and get very jolly on Aquardiente (a very strong liquor that tastes like sambuca and is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Colombia. The hangover it leaves however is not so popular.)

For one week the city blossoms into an even more vibrant and colourful place!

The main focal point of the festival is the parade of the Silleteros or campesinos (people from the countryside.) These Silleteros walk through the streets of Medellín with large and beautifully decorated flower displays on their backs. The parade is said to represent the end of slavery when previosuly slaves would carry men and women on their backs instead of flowers.

 

The flower displays must have been incredibly heavy and the Silleteros had to walk across a lot of Medellín, yet throughout the parade they looked like they were having the time of their lives, showing off their beautifully designed flower arrangements to thousands of cheering Colombians.

copyright – foro.univision.com

I think this past week has been a turning point for myself and Medellín – I am starting to feel a sense of pride that I am able to call this place my home for the next 10/11 months. It may have something to do with how bursting with life the city has been for the past seven days, or it may just be that I am settling into a routine, but La Feria de las Flores has unveiled Medellín’s true, vibrant self and I think I can safely say I am really starting to love this city.