Friday, August 1, 2025
In August, Medellín blossoms into a surviving tapestry of colour and fragrance erstwhile it hosts nan Feria de las Flores Festival of Flowers. The show is not conscionable an event, but a ceremony of Colombia’s abundant floral practice that pays homage to quality and agrarian civilization arsenic good arsenic nan silleteros cardinal to this tradition. Declared National Cultural Heritage by Colombia, Feria de las Flores is simply a multi-sensory ceremony that has been charming some residents and visitors for much than 60 years.
This year’s festival, which continued for 10 days – including respective nights of floral fireworks and a marathon-long parade captured nan unthinkable floral richness that Antioquia offers Colombia by boasting almost 40 percent of nan country´s nationalist flower output. It is this industry, which fills a sizable information of nan area successful and astir Medellín pinch flowers grown for export betwixt October and December, that has fixed Colombia nan world’s 2nd starring supplier aft Ecuador overmuch of its floral heritage; hence it was considered an economical arsenic good arsenic taste feat.
From Roots to Glory: The Story of nan Silleteros
The silleteros, master flower bearers who are cardinal to nan festival, person their roots successful pre-Hispanic history erstwhile autochthonal group of Andes utilized ample woody chairs aliases “silletas” to ferry equipment complete mountainous terrain. These were chairs, nan for illustration of which had ne'er been seen earlier and without which it would person been intolerable to transportation into rugged places wherever neither carts nor mules could travel.
Gradually, nan silletas became emblematic of Medellín’s flower-growing region. In nan 1950s, flower growers started to usage them to carrier their valuable floral arrangements to market. The first charismatic parade of silleteros took spot successful 1957, and this was nan commencement of what is coming a renowned ceremony known arsenic Feria de las Flores. Today, nan contented cThe Silleteros Parade: The Main Eventontinues connected a smaller standard pinch to seizure nan beauty of it each during different yearly vibrant ceremony made successful tribute and grant to these silleteros them during each August.
A Festival pinch a Thousand Faces
Medellín’s Feria de las Flores is truthful overmuch much than a flower festival. During nan festival, complete 110 nationalist events and further much than 200 activities are held successful nan metropolis successful festal temper each time long. There are divers taste offerings for visitors, from lively concerts and dances to accepted festivals that correspond Medellín’s assortment of arts.
Among nan astir celebrated events are Viva la Salsa, a creation show astatine which fans of salsa from astir nan world travel to show their moves and Orquídea de Oro Trova Festival wherever musicians compete successful impromptu opus battles. These philharmonic experiences are a tribute to Colombia’s deeply-rooted civilization and nan salsa sounds, arsenic good arsenic trova euphony supply a spirit of its rich | art.
Other notable events see La Feria a Ritmo de Bicicleta, wherever participants thrust bicycles done nan metropolis to observe Medellín’s increasing cycling culture, and nan International Storytelling Festival, which invites artists from astir nan globe to stock tales of Colombia’s folklore and history. The Chivas and Flowers Parade and nan Tusa y Despecho Festival connection lighthearted fun, while nan Orchid, Flower, and Handicraft Exhibition showcases nan craftsmanship of section artisans.
The Silleteros Parade: The Main Event
And astatine nan bosom of Feria de las Flores is nan Silleteros Parade, an bonzer ceremony artistry and tradition. The parade goes on Medellín’s Avenida Regionalwith much than 530 participants making their measurement confidently down nan thoroughfare wearing accepted achromatic apparel and aguadeño hats while carrying silletas. Weighing up to 200 pounds (90kg) and spanning 2 metres successful diameter, these handmade floral structures are some visually breathtaking and steeped pinch taste significance.
Types of silletas The class successful which a silletero participates astatine nan parade depends connected really elaborate its creation is made.
Traditioanl Silleta – Traditional pinch simply but agleam designs inspired by nan root tradition.
Silleta Emblemática- Civic, acquisition aliases belief themed creations that often characteristic nationalist symbols and portraits.
Silleta Artística Abstract floral arrangements let productivity and originality.
Silleta Comercial – Promotional silletas, often designed for companies aliases those pinch branding.
Silleta Monumental – The biggest and astir elaborate designs, requiring nary little than 4 assortment of flowers.
The creations are judged by a sheet of experts according to technique, creation and assortment of flowers. The winners, wished by property group and class of design, are feted successful beforehand earlier nan parade proceeds done Medellín.
In bid to support nan tone of nan tradition, participating must beryllium from Santa Elena- aliases surrounding areas silletero families being, arsenic if you didn’t cognize yet (which really I judge you really should…) ‘The’ horticultural centre successful Antioquia. This way, nan artisanal accomplishment of taking connected a sillaero’s labour is transmitted done generations and keeps live an activity that has go portion of Medellín identity.
Cultural Significance and Economic Impact
The Feria de las Flores is now 1 of Medellín’s astir important taste and economical events. It draws thousands of nationalist and world visitors a year. In summation to its taste value, nan show is highly profitable for immoderate of Medellin’s businesses peculiarly that produced by flower growers and artisans who supply flowers and crafts utilized successful parade floats arsenic good arsenic exhibits.
Third successful statement aft Holland and Ecuador, nan state is expanding its stock of Europe’s flower marketplace aliases alternatively “riding on” Caribe´s Visa paper if we mightiness opportunity so. The show showcases nan area’s lush floral segment while besides creating visibility for Colombia arsenic a world-leading eco-tourism and taste destination.
The show is besides portion of nan city’s efforts to protect and foster Medellín’s unsocial taste customs. By honoring nan silleteros and their artistry, nan Feria de las Flores provides a measurement for this age- aged believe to strengthen generations into future; it is an look of pridefulness successful who they are coming arsenic good unity wrong those that unrecorded there.
Conclusion: A Must-See Festival for Visitors
Indeed, nan Feria de las Flores is surviving impervious of Medellín’s culture, its earthy wealthiness and traditions. For those walking successful Colombia, it is an basal arena that will immerse you into nan country’s taste tableau. From nan colorful flowers decorating nan paradisiacal arena locations scattered astir municipality to enjoying Colombia’s rich | traditions, it is simply a chance to salary homage simultaneously astatine this show that celebrates some what comes people (literally) and our deep-seeded roots successful doing so.
With its blend of tradition, art, euphony and organization values nan Feria de las Flores remains an emblematic arena for Medellín and a awesome fixture successful Colombia’s taste calendar.