Won't You Follow Me Down to the Rose Parade?

Last week, I was a princess. Well, technically a Lady in Waiting, but I sure was treated like a princess. You see, down here in little old Tyler, Texas we take rose growing/processing pretty seriously. It's kind of a big deal. In fact, is such a big deal that since the 1930's, we've put on an annual Rose Festival to celebrate the role of roses in our economy. Here's the skinny:

Every year, a group of college sophomore girls is chosen by a committee to comprise the Tyler Court. These girls are either from families with historic ties to Tyler or from families that have been supporters of the Rose Festival for many years. One girl, who exemplifies both of these categories, is chosen to serve as the Rose Queen. (Every girl who has grown up in Tyler has, at some point in time, dreamed of being the Rose Queen.) Another girl, usually with family connected to the rose industry, is chosen to be the Duchess of the Rose Growers - a kind of second in command, if you will. The rest of the Tyler court are Ladies in Waiting. Girls from other towns with relatives historically bound to Tyler or that support the Rose Festival are invited to join the court as Duchesses of their respective homes. Each member of the court chooses an escort, college sophomore boys, usually from Tyler families. The Queen may also choose children to participate in the court; a young boy as a scepter bearer, two young girls as train bearers, and other attendants. There you have it. The Court. But what do they do?

Rose Festival takes place in October, when the roses in the nation's largest municipal rose garden (yep, that'd be Tyler's) are in full bloom. It consists of several Coronations, the Rose Parade, and The Queen's Tea. Coronations are huge pageants, in which all of the duchesses and ladies in waiting are presented, and the Rose Queen is crowned to begin her year of service. These are not B-list affairs, my friends. A fashion designer from Dallas custom designs a dress for each girl. Lady in Waiting dresses are usually complementary and in accordance with the overall theme of that year's festival. Duchess dresses are more outlandish and creative, with each Duchess getting her own character and persona. In groups of 5 or so, duchesses and ladies in waiting alternate turns on stage. When each girl is announced, she walks around the stage, stopping in the middle to perform a full bow - to the floor. The last to be presented is the Queen, who is crowned then performs her own bow. One of the coolest things about coronation is that the Queen's dress is kept entirely secret until the first coronation. The other dresses are, too, but they're more contained within the court and parents of the court. The Queen's dress is a complete surprise for most everyone. It's really quite magical. The Rose Parade is a parade, with all of the Court on floats and every middle school band marching and herds of cheerleaders cheering and the Shriners in their little cars. Pretty much what you'd expect. Tea with the Queen is one of my favorite events, because the entire court sits out under pretty little tents in the Rose Garden, and little girls from all over come with their grandmas to take pictures and get autographs.

So, yeah. This past week has been the week of summer rehearsals. I've been learning how to walk, float, bow, and hold my arms like a true princess, and I've loved every second of it. Even though I saw Midnight in Paris and learned that you can't spend your life wishing you were some-time else, I still believe that I might possible be living in the wrong era. I belong where all of this pomp and circumstance is the norm! I guess Prince Harry is still eligible...

For more: http://www.texasrosefestival.com/festival/index.htm
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-jjXAkGZ1w&feature=related
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aP4OYhhFro&feature=related
                http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=texas%20rose%20festival