Festivities
Pink Carnation Ceremony & Dance
The breast cancer flower ceremony is a tradition that has become a major part of dragon boat festivals. In 1997, a breast cancer survivor team in Vancouver carried pink carnations with them as a sign of hope for a fellow teammate who had recurrence of the disease. Following their last race, the team spontaneously threw their carnations into the water, and the flower ceremony was born.
The breast cancer flower ceremony is a must see event at dragon boat festivals. While the color and type of flower may vary, the reason for holding the event never changes. The flower ceremony honors those who have passed away, gives hope to those who are battling, and celebrates those who have survived.
The ceremony in our festival also includes the Pink Glove Dance. Carnations will be available for purchase of $2 from the Breast Buddies for those who wish to honor a loved one who battled cancer, or who passed away from it.
