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In 2002 from May 3-20, the Canadian Tulip Festival celebrates its 50th Anniversary with the creation of Tulipmania; Tuips like you've never seen them before! Exciting new and artistic Tulipmanial Exhibits, a Tulip Explosion floral design and flower show, a 50th Anniversary Community Tulip Gardenof five-foot tulipsand a gala 50th Anniversary Tulip Ball with an International Floral Gown Competition will highlight the expanded anniversary festival.
Each year in the first weeks of May, Canada’s capital city of Ottawa becomes a flower enthusiast’s mecca as millions of tulips in carefully-tended beds all over the city burst into riotous bloom. These beautiful blooms announce the arrival of Spring and the official opening of the Canadian Tulip Festival. Concerts, floral competitions, a parade of flower-bedecked floats gliding down Rideau Canal, and dazzling fireworks displays are just some of the many things to see and do during the 10 day event.
Why does Ottawa celebrate the tulip with such enthusiasm? The tradition began 60 years ago when the Canada gave asylum to Dutch heir apparent, Princess Julianna. The German army had invaded Holland in May, 1940, and the Royal House immediately left their country for London. While her mother,Queen Wilhelmina, remained there, Julianna and her family left for a safer haven in Canada. They arrived in Halifax and from that eastern port city were escorted to Rideau Hall,also known as Government House, and where Julianna remained until the end of the Second World War. To show her gratitude Julianna gifted Canadian citizens with 100,000 of the Netherlands famous tulip bulbs in the fall of 1945.
This started a tradition and every year thereafter another 100,000 bulbs were delivered to Ottawa and planted all around the city. Over the next decade the Canadian Tulip Festival became bigger and better every year. By the early 1960’s more than 2 million showy and colourful tulips were in bloom in time for the festival. Tourists started making Ottawa their destination in early May. So did dignitaries from Canada, the United States and other parts of the world. In 1961 President John F. Kennedy met for talks with then Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker while the Tulip Festival was in full swing. And in 1967, Canada’s Centennial year, Queen Julianna attended to add a touch of royalty to the festivities.
Some well known artists and musicians have graced the Canadian Tulip Festival’s various cultural stages. In 1972 Liberace delighted audiences with one of his trademark piano concerts and in 1987 a teenaged Alanis Morissette gave her first performance. Floral designers from many parts of the world make a point of attending, often giving workshops or demonstrations to show how they create their beautiful flower arrangements. There’s even an official Tulip Route which many people follow to view the dazzling tulip beds along Rideau Canal and the dozens of other locations all around the city.
The Canadian Tulip Festival usually has a special theme each year. Organisers centred this year’s festival around, (what else?), the arrival of the new millennium. Some past themes have been: “The Floral Artistry of Japan”, “Turkish Tulip Tribute”, in honor of the land where tulips were first cultivated, and a “A Friendship that Flowered”, celebrating the steadfast friendship that still flowers between the Netherlands and Canada. In 1999 the festival’s theme was, “Between Friends”, honoring the good relations with Canada’s southern neighbour, the United States. In 2001 The Canadian Tulip Festival was held from May 11-21, and its theme was “A Salute to Britain”, a country well known for its beautiful, uniquely designed and in some cases, centuries-old gardens.
The Canadian Tulip Festival originated from a simple, yet heartfelt gesture by the future Queen of the Netherlands and has grown into the largest festival of its kind anywhere. Last year approximately three-quarters of a million people from across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia attended. With literally millions of showy tulips in bloom at one time, it's not hard to understand why this festival has such far-reaching appeal. The Canadian Tulip Festival will continue to grow and thrive, and compel new generations of flower enthusiasts to come to Ottawa and join the celebration of spring and over half a decade of good international relations.
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