Morocco’s Rose Festival starts this weekend, in the town of El Kelaa M’Gouna, nestled high in the Atlas Mountains in the Valley of the Roses. Credit H.Zell / Wikimedia Commons
Texas Public Radio/NPR, by Nathan Cone (May 12, 2013) – Each week on World Music (Saturday nights from 8-10 on KSTX 89.1 FM), I take a look at celebrations happening around the world. This week, a fragrant festival in Morocco.
ROSE FESTIVAL
The Rose Festival in Morocco starts this weekend. Nestled high in the Atlas Mountains lies the town of El Kelaa M’Gouna in the Valley of the Roses. The fragrant Damask Rose was introduced to the area by the French in 1938. Shortly thereafter, a distillery was opened to extract the oil from the flowers.
Today, almost every rose infused perfume, is created by roses from this area. The roses are harvested and transported for treatment in huge trucks, which create an aura of sweet perfumed air, as they travel through the streets. People dress in pink and white clothing and many wear floral necklaces. As one might anticipate, there are also Rose Queens. Any thing that you can imagine which should smell of roses is available, from Rose Water to those luxurious and very expensive perfumes.
VIDEO
Video of Morocco’s Rose Festival – YouTube Click photo to play
You can hear more about this and other celebrations happening around the world every Saturday night on World Music with Deirdre Saravia, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on KSTX 89.1 FM.
