Jersey Battle of Flowers Jersey Battle of Flowers The Jersey Battle of Flowers is an annual carnival held in the Channel Island of Jersey in the second Thursday 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. Current spectator numbers are around 20,000. The major floats are usually produced by the parishes of Jersey. The 'Battle' itself originally consisted of
Carnival in the Netherlands was used as an opportunity to protest against the imperialist (and protestant) Prussia which annexated the area at the time. Many of the current militaristic traditions can be traced back to this protest feast. In the week before carnaval (usual Thursday) there are, so-called "Oude Wijven" or (old women) days and "Oudewijvenbals" (old women balls). During "Ouwe Wijve" or "Auw Wiever" the pubs and streets are crowded by costumed women, usually dressed as old women. Men who dare to go out on the streets and in the pubs are at risk to be humiliated, be hit on the buttock and