The practices and craftsmanship associated with the Damascene rose include medical, nutritional and cosmetic functions. The Damascene Rose begins to bloom in May, when the picking commences and the annual festival kicks off. Farmers and their families handpick the roses and then sort the rose buds together for making tea. The women of the village make rose syrup, jam and pastries, and apothecaries sell the dried Damascene Rose for its numerous medicinal benefits. The festival is attended in large numbers and is a testament to the element’s unfading cultural significance for its bearers.