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Welcome, you are in Marca País
Welcome, you are in Marca País
Silleteros of Medellin: living tradition of the floral festival
During the first days of August every year, Medellín fills with flowers and festivities to welcome one of the most traditional celebrations in Colombia: The Flower Fair.
The Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival) is the most important event in Medellín, as it embodies all the values of the Antioquian people. The festival lasts 10 days and is part of the Colombian cultural heritage.
The Silleteros Parade, the central act of the festival, originated thanks to an invitation from Arturo Uribe Arango, from Medellín's Office of Promotion and Tourism, who invited 40 silleteros from Santa Elena (Antioquia) to decorate the first edition of the fair in 1957.
The "silletas" are wooden structures with handles used to carry large amounts of flowers on the back. Their origin dates back to colonial times when they were used to transport people across the mountains of the region. In the early 20th century, this item was useful for farmers to carry flowers from Antioquian towns to Medellín to sell them. Today, although the custom of selling flowers this way no longer exists, the parade is a representation of the region's traditions.
A festival for everyone
The festival offers many more activities for tourists, such as the classic car parade, the National Horse Fair, the National Trova Festival, the National Sound on Wheels Championship, and the Orchestra Festival, among others. Check out the festival schedule and experience Colombian culture at the Feria de las Flores 2018.
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