Canadian Tulip Festival is held in Ottawa

The Tulip Festival, which began in 1957, has been held in Canada for more than 60 years, and this year's Tulip Festival is held in Ottawa from May 8 to 18 Canadian time. The theme of this year's Tulip Festival was closely linked to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War. When it comes to tulips, the first thing that comes to our mind is the Netherlands. Indeed, the Canadian Tulip Festival was deeply influenced by the Netherlands.

The story of tulips and Ottawa

During World War II, the Dutch royal family was forced to flee to Canada for refuge. At the time, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands was pregnant and she would delivery a baby in October, but the Dutch law of succession to the throne stipulated that only a prince (or princess) born in Dutch could be recognized as a member of the royal family and be given the opportunity to succeed to the throne in the future. Under this circumstance, the Canadian Parliament convened an emergency session to pass a law granting the Netherlands a maternity ward at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in Ottawa, and immediately informed the world's ambassadors in Canada that this ward was Dutch territory, where Princess Juliana gave birth to Princess Margriet.

After the end of the World War II, the Dutch royal family returned to their homeland. For their gratitude to Canada, the royal family presented tulips a a gift to Canada in successive years, and returned the maternity ward of Ottawa Civic Hospital to Canada by law.

Due to Dutch gifts in successive years and Ottawa's favorable climate, tulips have blossomed throughout the city. In 1957, the Ottawa Government decided to hold a tulip festival to commemorate the friendship between Netherlands and Canada and to wish the world in peace.

Focus on the upcoming Tulip Festival together

The Tulip Festival has different themes every year, such as in 2019, the 20th anniversary of Ottawa and Beijing's establishment of friendly cities, the planting ceremony of the "Beijing and Ottawa Friendship Tulip Garden" was held and various activities related to Chinese elements were exhibited during that year's festival.

Canada played an important role during the Dutch Resistance, giving this year's Tulip Festival a special meaning. In the special time of this year, the organizers of the Tulip Festival have put more emphasis on online viewing of the Tulip Festival. Therefore, during the festival, people can visit the official website of Tulip Festival and participate in with more online ways.

Follow the Tulip Festival online: https://tulipfestival.ca/

Share the joy of Tulip Festival together!