20 February 2008

Fête du Citron - Corsica

Today's float represents Corsica. Note the sanglier (wild boar) in the foreground. When you drive around the centre of Corsica you see families of wild boar wandering across the road.

In 1929, Menton, with its micro-climate, was the number one lemon-growing region in Europe. An hotelier had the excellent idea of organising an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruit in the gardens of the Hôtel Riviera. It was so successful that the following year, the event moved into the streets, with carts covered with orange and lemon trees along with beautiful local girls. Wishing to develop tourism, the municipality sought to give its Carnival a typically local colour - and so the Lemon festival was born in 1934. Two years later, the first exhibition of citrus fruit and flowers was launched in the Biovès gardens. Floats were designed and decorated with lemons and oranges. This has continued to this day and each year with a different theme.

If you look at the second photo, you can see how the lemons and oranges are fixed - with rubber bands. Tomorrow - another island - and we'll learn how the floats are constructed.

21 comments:

  1. It is almost impossible for me to comprehend this many pieces of fruit.

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  2. Woooo...and I thought the one from yesterday was impressive!

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  3. They are so lovely and creative. I bet you have a field day taking many photos of the many different floats.

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  4. Another outstanding float!

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  5. Really enjoying the series. Wish we were there!

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  6. Two great photos. It must be a great festival.

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  7. Great stuff. Any Greek isles represented here? I'm a big fan of island hopping in that archipelago.

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  8. Very elaborate. I especially like the lemon paths. And when I click to enlarge the photo of the boat I can see the rubber bands you mentioned yesterday.

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  9. This is absolutely fantastic. How is it that events like this one don't make the news here? I will never understand.

    I am featuring art by local artists today as well, one of them a master beader - now that I think about it, the lemons and oranges look like giant beads! :)

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  10. Fantastic! I wonder how many fruit they use for that every year. I have never seen it.

    Le char représentant la Corse m'a bien fait rire! J'imagine d'autres personnes se cachant derrière les oranges, comme Kadhafi dont on raconte en Corse qu'il eut un père corse!

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  11. So colorful, a bit surreal. It would cost a fortune to make these in Alaska. Produce is very expensive.

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  12. I was eagerly waiting for these pictures Jilly and I am not disappointed. :) These are absolutely spectacular!

    These floats look even grander than last year's!

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  13. It looks very neat, I would love to help build something like that.

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  14. I have loved this series of photos. They look good enough to eat! The colors are amazing.

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  15. This is a great series. I'd love to be in Menton right now and the next best thing is to read your blog.

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  16. This is amazing!!! Stunning colours and so imaginative!!!

    Still waiting for PNG - guess I might have to come over and build it myself - any lemons left?????

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  17. vraiment il se dépasse, ce château en agrume est vraiment superbe et impressionnant. bravo aux artistes une fois de plus

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  18. Aaah, I've been waiting patiently for you to bring us the citrus festival! And the wait is rewarded as i catch up after having been on the sick list (again). This time I've had the gallbladder op so will be fit and well for our travels in May/June!

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  19. Please tell me the wild boar on the left of the castle is made of 100% chocolate. :-)

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  20. It's incredible what they do with all those lemons. Great.

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