Tulip Festival in Ribe

From 19 to 22 May 2011 in the Danish city Ribe was a traditional Tulip Festival, culminate point of which was the colorful parade of tulips under the rain.

 

Tulip Festival dates back to the middle of 20th century, when at this time of year the fields around Ribe were filled with blooming tulips. Just then, a beautiful spring day in 1949, Keld Christensen and his wife came to Ribe from Fyn island. Walking along the tulip fields that spread on 50 acres south of Ribe, Ms. Christensen expressed regret over the fact that the buds of discarded flowers are thrown out and nowhere to go. Thus was born the idea of ​​using the flower heads for decorating the city. But it took another three years to ensure that this idea was embodied in the festival. The first Tulip Festival was held in Ribe on the second Sunday in May 1952.

Originally, the Festival organizers were not sure in the success of this event. However, Danes wanted to go to Ribe, to see a flourishing city and enjoy the spring weather. The success was so obvious that the organizers decided to repeat the Festival. In 1953, during the Festival in the city had 20 to 25 thousand visitors, and in 1957 the number of visitors increased by 50 thousand people. Since then, the festival is held every year (only in 1963 it was canceled), and its design and program are constantly changing. For example, in 1957 the Festival was a fancy-dress parade of knights, and for many years the city has also graced daffodils.

Tulip Festival is always held in May, during the Store Bededag or Pentecost.

In 2011, the Tulip Festival in Ribe was held for four days (19-22 May), during which the city was music and the beer flowed. The culmination of the festival was a bright and colorful parade of tulips, which took place under the rain.

By materials of the Official Festival Site

 

Photo: UGE-Avisen Ribe