The "Love of Kings Festival" or the "Cherry Festival" (in English: Cherry Festival) is considered one of the oldest popular festivals in Morocco. Its events take place in the city of Sefrou, Morocco, since the year 1919 AD. This festival attracts many foreign tourists and Moroccan visitors alike. One of the distinctive features of the festival is the nomination of young women to compete for the title of "Queen of Love of Kings."
Morocco is one of the countries that produces cherries, with an approximate production of 7.4 thousand tons. The cherry harvesting season typically occurs between the end of May and the beginning of July. The Love of Kings Festival was established in the city of Sefrou in Morocco to celebrate this fruit since the year 1919 AD. The festival draws many foreign tourists as well as Moroccan visitors from various cities.
The celebrations coincide with the end of the cherry fruit harvesting season, and the festival is named "Love of Kings" to honor the cherries. It takes place over three days in June each year and includes the selection of the beauty queen. The organizers of the festival state that Sefrou is the only Moroccan city to crown a beauty queen without political sensitivities. The unique aspect of combining the Love of Kings Festival and the cherry harvest festival lies in the resemblance between the delicate features of the cherry fruit and the beauty of a young woman. The beauty queen and her attendants are chosen from among nine candidates, and the celebration is accompanied by Arabic and Amazigh melodies. Following the coronation of the beauty queen and her attendants, a popular parade takes place through the city's streets, accompanied by the tunes of traditional folk music, symbolizing the ancient-new connection between the beauty of nature and human beauty.
Name Origin: The term "Love of Kings" for the cherry fruit originates from the inhabitants of Morocco. Since its appearance on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains, it became known for its ability to treat gout, a disease referred to locally as "Al-Malawak" (the kings). It was recognized for its numerous health benefits, including its aid in treating this ailment, leading to the cherries being called "Love of Kings." This name extended to the festival that celebrates this fruit as the "Love of Kings Festival."
History: After the cultivation of cherry trees in the orchards of Sefrou and to introduce them beyond the region and promote their produce on a national level, a festival (season) was conceived to celebrate the yield of these trees that took root in foreign soil. The first celebration was held in a tavern later named the "Café Love of Kings," which eventually transformed into the headquarters of the Moroccan Foreign Trade Bank. Due to the considerable interest the celebration garnered, it was moved to the municipal swimming pool garden in the following year, where it received even greater attendance. Subsequently, prominent figures and community members saw fit to give the celebration an official character through the establishment of a committee overseeing it since 1919, with annual renewals.
