It is a yearly celebration that is held in June. Residents of Sefrou celebrate the natural beauty and cultures of the region by celebrating the cherry fruit, symbolized by the Cherry Queen.
In Sefrou, a city in northern Morocco near the city of Fez, an annual festival is known as the Sefrou Cherry Festival, also known as Moussem Hab Al Moulouk.
At one point, Sefrou was a major stopping point for traders making their way from the Mediterranean to the Desert. Jews and Berbers from Morocco and Algeria had settled in Sefrou since the 13th century. The Sefrou Cherry Festival was launched in 1920, and young Moroccan women from all different religions participated in the festival.
The event is now very popular among locals, as well as thousands of tourists each year. They come to witness the election of Miss Cherry and explore Moroccan culture. A beauty contest in which beautiful women compete to become Miss Cherry is a Moroccan prestigious event.
In mid-June, Sefrou Cherry Festival celebrates Moroccan folklore with Fantazia performances, traditional dancing, and traditional dishes, as well as cultural, sporting, and artistic contests. In addition to artistic events and conferences on cherry farming, Sefrou will feature open-air concerts, sports competitions, and the annual "Miss Cherry" pageant.
The festival features a parade, with performing troupes, rural and urban music, majorettes and bands, and floats featuring local producers. The highlight of the festival is a pageant that attracts competitors from all over the region and country. The Cherry Queen occupies the center of the tableau with her attendants surrounding her as she offers cherries to onlookers.
In addition to crafters creating silk buttons for dresses, fruit growers distributing cherries, and local sports clubs competing in competitions, each participant contributes to the success of the festival. The cherry festival is an opportunity for the entire city to showcase its accomplishments and activities.
However, the festival activities are also handled in conjunction with the younger generation to ensure sustainability. The celebration acts as a source of pride and belonging for the people of the city, contributing greatly to their sense of self-worth.
Associations and cooperatives can use the event to market their products and promote the economy of the region. A diverse range of cultural practices and traditions are also important to the region, including the moussem of Tan Tan that brings nomadic tribes together, the Jemaa El Fna plaza in Marrakech, falcon hunting as well as argan cultivation and exploitation.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/cherry-festival-in-sefrou-00641) (https://moroccanzest.com/sefrou-cherry-festival/) (https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/05/274487/unesco-sefrou-cherry-festival-june-2019) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sefrou#Culture) |Subject=dance, Entertainment and Recreation, Food, Music |Country=Morocco |SDG=(03) Good Health and Well-being, (08) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production }}