Reader's Digest - USA (2019-08)

nexttotraysofbeerandbot-
tlesoflocalbrandy.Themusic
inspiresfest-goerstomount
tables,shoutapprovalandlock
armswhilewavingsparklers.

Afullprogramofscheduled
ritualscontinuesforthenext
twodays.Themenwearwool-
lentrousersandtunics.The
womenwear30-kilogrambro-
cadeddressesthathavebeen
passeddownforgenerations.
Ceremoniesincludeshaving
thebridegroomonthemain
square,hikingtothecemeteryto
invitethedeadtothewedding,and
sendingthebrideonhorsebacktoher
soon-to-behusband’shousebefore
walkingtoSt.PeterandPaulChurch.
“Thisceremonyissomethingthat
isjustours,”saidTanjaLepcheska,
whosebrotherwasmarriedheretwo
years ago. “It cannot betakenaway.”
AlexCrevar

JasmineFestival

GRASSE,FRANCE

AUGUST2-4

EveryAugust,theProvençaltownof
Grasse– knownastheperfumecapital
oftheworld– paysthreedaysofexu-
beranthomagetooneofthefragrant
flowersthatshapeditsdestiny:the
jasmine.
DuringtheJasmineFestival(the
firstwasin1946),thetownisdeco-
ratedwithpurplegarlands.Women
dressupinflowerblooms and play

medievalinstruments,andchildren

watchflower-themedpuppetshows.

Themaineventisa paradeduring

whichthetown’sfiredepartment

spraysjasmine-infusedwateronthe

crowds.Youngwomenthrowflowers

intothecrowd,andpeopleonstilts

maketheirwaythroughcobblestone

streetsstrewnwithpetals.

Incenturiespast, Grassehada

thrivingleatherbusiness,butthe

tanningprocessmadeforpungent

merchandise. A local perfumer

offered a pairofscentedleathergloves

toCatherinedeMedici,thequeenof

Francefrom 1547 until1559,andan

industrywasborn. ColleenCreamer

LaTomatina

BUÑOL,SPAIN

AUGUST 28

Oneofthemostbelovedspectaclesin

SpainisLaTomatina,a massivefood

fight held in the tiny town of Buñol,

114 Augus t 2019

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