The Jersey Battle of Flowers is an annual carnival held in the Channel Island of Jersey on the second Friday and Saturday of August. The festival consists of music, funfairs, dancers, majorettes and a parade of flower floats alongside various street entertainers. It was inaugurated in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The largest attendance to date is thought to be that of 1969 when 60,000 people were present.[1] Current spectator numbers are around 20,000.
Battle of Flowers
'In Flanders Fields' by The Optimists Club – Winners of 2018 Jersey Battle of Flowers Prix d'Honneur, Spectators' Award and Owen Wiscombe Design Award
The 'Battle' itself originally consisted of dismantling the floats to provide floral ammunition for a literal battle of flowers between participants and spectators, but this aspect has long been abandoned. Since 1989, a nighttime Moonlight Parade with the floats festooned in lights has been introduced. The Moonlight Parade ends with a fireworks display. Recent years have seen higher turnouts to the moonlight parade, which attracts locals as well as tourists possibly due to its party atmosphere.
Historyedit
The first Battle of Flowers was held on 9 August 1902 on Victoria Avenue, Saint Helier. The First World War interrupted the tradition and it was not until 1928 that the Battle was revived at Springfield where it was held until 1938. The threat of war meant the 1939 event was abandoned and it was not until 1951 that the event was revived back on Victoria Avenue, where it was held for many years on the last Thursday in July (since moved to its current date).[2]
In 1964 the event was attended by around 50,000 people.[3]
The ongoing outbreak of coronavirus in 2020 and 2021 caused the very first cancellation of the Battle since its revival in 1951.[4]
Prizesedit
Prizes are awarded in numerous categories, with their names in French, for floats of different sizes and types. Listed here are the main prizes with the Prix d’Honneur being the overall winner.
2022edit
Top Prize Winners of 2022 Jersey Battle of Flowers
Prix d’Honneur: The Optimists Club – "When Movies Were Movies"[5]
Prix d'Excellence: Parish of Grouville – "Ghost Train"
Prix D’Honneur de Papier: Parish of St Saviour – "Huang Long"
Grand Prix des Fleurs: Parish of St Clement – "C’est Magique"
Prix de Mérite: Friends of Galaad – "Wimbo wa Ngoma"
Spectators' Award: The Optimists Club – "When Movies Were Movies"
Prix D'Honneur Junior: Parish of St Lawrence Juniors -"Madhatter's Tea Party"
Junior Spectators' Award: Parish of St Lawrence Juniors -"Madhatter's Tea Party"
Battle of Flowers did not take place in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid
Prix d'Excellence: The Optimists Club – "Off The Rails"
Grand Prix des Paroisses: Parish of Trinity
Grand Prix des Fleurs: Mary Bidan and Friends
Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath and Friends
Prix de Mérite: Grouville Too
Best Illuminated Float (over 25 ft): The Optimists Club – "Off The Rails"
2005edit
Winners at the 2005 Battle included:
Prix d'Honneur: The Optimists Club – "Merry Christmas"
Prix d'Excellence: Parish of St. Clement
Grand Prix des Paroisses: Parish of Grouville
Grand Prix des Fleurs: Mary Bidan and Friends
Prix d'Honneur de Papier: Peter Heath Family and Friends
Prix de Mérite: Optimists Juniors
Spectators' Award: The Optimists Club – "Merry Christmas"
Best Illuminated Float (over 25 ft): The Optimists Club – "Merry Christmas"
Miss Battle of Flowers and Mr Battleedit
As of 2018 the role of Miss Battle has been replaced with 'Jersey Battle of Flowers Ambassador' open to both genders, this was to avoid the stereotyping of a beauty pageant. The Ambassador role is open to any young person between the ages of 17 and 25 years who have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least two years.
A competition to select a Miss Battle was held, each year, in the months preceding the Battle. The competition involves a set of contests held in each of the parishes. A winner is selected in each parish, and these ladies are entered into the final competition to select the year's Miss Battle of Flowers.
Miss Battle of Flowers, the overall winner of the Miss Parish contests, rides on her own specially made float. There was also formerly a Maid of Honour who rode with the Miss Battle but this has now been replaced with the Jersey Battle of Flowers Consort. The tradition of having a Mr Battle to escort Miss Battle was in abeyance for a number of years, but Kyran Bracken revived the role in 2007.
The table below lists some years, but is not a complete list.
^ ab"Battle of Flowers – The Optimists Club, Jersey, Channel Islands". Optimistsclubjersey.com. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
^"Exhibitors". battleofflowers.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013.
^"Battle winners announced – Jersey News from ITV Channel Television". channelonline.tv. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
^"Flying high after one of the most successful Battles « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"BBC News – St Clement wins top Battle of Flowers prize". BBC. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
^"News, Weather & Information for the Channel Islands – Battle of Flowers 2010". channelonline.tv. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
^Battle of Flowers 2009 awards (14 August 2009). "Jersey – Entertainment – Battle of Flowers 2009 awards". BBC. Retrieved 4 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Optimists take top prize in 2008". BBC. 18 August 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
^"Chantelle crowned Miss Battle". channelonline.tv. 27 April 2015.
^"Holly is crowned Miss Battle |". channelonline.tv. 6 April 2014.
^"Miss Junior Battle 2013". Battleofflowers.com. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
^"Rebecca Houze is crowned Miss Jersey Battle of Flowers". BBC News. 2 April 2012.
^"Matthew Wolfenden is Mr Jersey Battle of Flowers 2012". BBC. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
^"Grouville student crowned Miss Battle of Flowers 2011". BBC News. 27 March 2011.
^"Gareth Gates is Mr Battle at Jersey's Battle of Flowers". BBC News. 11 July 2011.
^"Getting ready for Battle 2010". BBC News. 23 July 2010.
^"Danny Young named Mr Battle 2010". BBC News. 29 June 2010.
^"Miss Battle of Flowers 2009 « This Is Jersey". Thisisjersey.com. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Marco Pierre White IS Mr Battle – Jersey News from ITV Channel Television". channelonline.tv. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
^"Battle Features". BBC. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
^Ready for BattleBy Ryan Morrison (8 August 2007). "Day Parade". BBC. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
^"Battle of Flowers party continues". BBC News. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
^"Sinead takes the crown". Thisisjersey.com. 12 June 2006. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Jodie and Andy are our Battle celebrities". Thisisjersey.com. 8 August 2006. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Europe | Jersey | Lack of cash grounds Miss Battle". BBC News. 6 August 2005. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
^"Jersey – In Pictures – Battle of Flowers 2004". BBC. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
^"Jersey – About Jersey". BBC. 14 August 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
^"BBC News – Jimmy Savile named in Jersey children's home abuse inquiry". BBC. Retrieved 4 October 2012.