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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