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{{short description|Traditional folk festival in Mons, Belgium}}
[[Image:DragonLumecon.jpg|thumb|right|The dragon and the ''white men'']]
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
The '''Ducasse de Mons''' or '''Doudou''' is a popular festival that happens every year on [[Trinity Sunday]] (57 days after [[Easter]]) in the town of [[Mons]] in [[Belgium]]. It is recognised as one of the [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]] since November 2005.
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| image = DragonLumecon.jpg
| caption = The fight called ''Lumeçon'' (the dragon and the ''white men'' pictured)
| status = Active
| frequency = Annual
| first =
| country = [[Belgium]]
| location = [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]]
| participants =
| last =
| next =
| website =
}}
{{Infobox intangible heritage
| ICH = Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France
| State Party = Belgium
| Domains =
| Criteria =
| ID = 00153
| Region = ENA
| Year = 2008
| Session = 3rd
| List = Representative
}}


The '''Ducasse de Mons''', also commonly known as the '''Doudou''', is a traditional folk festival held in [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], [[Hainaut Province|Hainaut]], Belgium, on [[Trinity Sunday]] (57 days after [[Easter]]). The feast comprises two important parts: the procession, including the descent and the uprising of the [[Waltrude|Saint Waltrude]]'s [[shrine]], as well as the combat named ''Lumeçon'' between [[Saint George]] and a [[dragon]]. Since 2008, it is recognised as a [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity|Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]] by [[UNESCO]].<ref name=":0" />
The feast comprises two important parts:
* The procession, the descent and the uprising of the [[Waltrude]]’s [[Shrine]].
* The combat of [[Saint George]] named ''Lumeçon'';


==History==
==History==
The Ducasse de Mons or Doudou originates in the [[Middle Ages]].<ref>Fr. De Vriendt, ''Une myriade de processions. Les cortèges religieux à Mons au Moyen Âge et à l'Époque Moderne'', and ''Du rite sacré au cortège civique. Nouvelles données sur les origines et l'histoire de la Procession'' (in French), in ''La Ducasse rituelle de Mons'', Brussels, 2013, p. 71–76 and p. 77–89</ref> Its origins are difficult to pin down exactly. It has been attested since the 13th century<ref>JP Ducastelle, ''Mons et le combat du Lumeçon dans Géants et dragons'' (in French), collective work, Casterman, 1996, p. 110 and seq.</ref> (the first known mention dates from 1248). It is a procession or ''ducasse''{{efn-ua|The French word ''ducasse'' refers to a procession; the Processional Giants of Ath and Mons are part of each city's ''ducasse''.}} with act of "[[circumambulation]]" around a religious symbol (e.g. a statue of the city's [[patron saint]]), in [[Latin language|Latin]] {{lang|la|circumambulatio}} or {{lang|la|amburbium}},{{sfn|Goblet d'Alviella|1908|p=667–669}} which can be found in many religions and beliefs.{{sfn|Bowker|1999|p=224}}
[[Image:MonsSchrijn.jpg|thumb|right|The shrine of Waltrude]]
[[Image:Mons D 050521 (41).JPG|thumb|right|The Car d'Or sur arrives at the Grand-Place]]
[[Image:Image050522_Mons_Car_d'Or_JPG01.jpg|thumb|right|Raising of the Car d'Or]]
The ''Doudou'' originates in the [[Middle Ages]]. In 1349, because the city of Mons was touched by the [[Bubonic plague|plague]], the authorities decided to organise a procession with the shrine of Waltrude. The shrine was brought to [[Casteau]] (a little village located between [[Mons]] and [[Soignies]] that has been the location of [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe|SHAPE]] since 1967). At the same time, the shrine of [[Vincent Madelgarus]] (husband of Waltrude) that is based in [[Soignies]] was also taken to the same place. A miracle happened and the plague disappeared after this [[Procession]]. In 1352, the date was fixed on [[Trinity Sunday]].
After 1380, the fraternity of [[Saint George]] has appeared in the procession. The reconstitution of the combat between Saint George and a [[Dragon]] took his place in the feast.
Because of the ’’less religious’’ origin, the combat was excluded from the procession in the 19th century. The separation between the religious parts of the feast and the non religious began at this time.


[[File:MonsSchrijn.jpg|thumb|left|The shrine of [[Waltrude|Saint Waltrude]]]]
The procession did not take place during the [[French Revolution|French revolution]], in 1803 and during the two world wars.

A tenacious but erroneous legend connects the Ducasse to the [[Bubonic plague|plague]]. In 1349, because [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]] was touched by a plague [[epidemic]] (the famous [[Black Death]]), the authorities decided to organise a procession with the shrine of [[Waltrude|Saint Waltrude]], the city's patroness. The shrine was brought to [[Casteau]] (a little village located between [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]] and [[Soignies]] that has been the location of [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe|SHAPE]] since 1967). At the same time, the shrine of [[Vincent Madelgarus]] (Waltrude's husband) that was based in Soignies was also taken to the same place. After this procession, the plague disappeared. The miracle was attributed to Saint Waudru and it was decided to repeat the procession every year.

Through the following decades, what was originally a religious procession took on gradually a more worldly outlook. In 1352, the date was fixed on [[Trinity Sunday]]. After 1380, the fraternity of [[Saint George]] appeared in the procession, made up of members of the nobility, the city's mayor and aldermen. From 1440, the reconstitution of the combat between Saint George and a [[dragon]] took its place in the feast. The separation between the religious parts of the feast and the non religious began at this time. As the procession gradually acquired a more [[Secularism|secular]] character, it became a social event in which all the city's constituents participate.

During the second half of the 16th century, the Ducasse was dependent on political and religious upheavals in the [[Spanish Netherlands|Spanish Low Countries]]. In 1786, the combat of Saint George and the dragon was suppressed following an [[edict]] promulgated by [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Joseph II of Austria]].<ref>E. Hubert, ''L'Edit de Joseph II sur les kermesses 11 février 1786'' (in French), in ''Université de Liège, Ouverture des cours le 18 octobre 1921'', Liège, 1921, p. 5–34.</ref> Another vicissitude, [[French Revolution|French revolution]]aries suppressed the game in 1794. The [[Concordat of 1801]] restored the procession and the fight. The procession did not take place in 1803. Because of the "less religious" origin, the combat was excluded once again from the procession in 1819 following measures taken by [[King William I of the Netherlands]].

[[File:Saint-Georges-et-dragon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|19th-century engraving showing the combat of [[Saint George]] and the dragon]]

The tradition continued during the 19th and 20th centuries with more or less success. It was around 1930, under the impetus of Canon Edmond Puissant, that the procession regained its vigour, thanks to the creation of new groups and a renewal of costumes. Between 1973 and the 2000s, the game was reviewed and structured in the sense of [[diegesis]] (a style of [[fiction]]al storytelling) by Georges Raepers, lawyer at the Bar Association of Mons. The celebrations were not held during [[World War I]] and [[World War II]], as well as in 2020 and 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=« Covid-19 » Le Doudou n'aura pas lieu le 7 juin — Ville de Mons |url=https://www.mons.be/actualites/covid-19-le-doudou-naura-pas-lieu-le-7-juin |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=www.mons.be |language=fr}}</ref>

In 2008, the Ducasse de Mons was recognised as one of the [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]] by [[UNESCO]], as part of the bi-national inscription '[[Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France]]'.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/processional-giants-and-dragons-in-belgium-and-france-00153|title=Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France - intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO|website=ich.unesco.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-22}}</ref>


==Planning==
==Planning==
Line 20: Line 50:


===The Procession===
===The Procession===
''The descent of the shrine'' takes place on the Saturday evening. During a religious ceremony, the shrine is taken down from its [[Altar]]. The Priest gives the shrine (kept all year in the church) to the town authorities for the duration of the festival. Then a procession with torches begins in the streets of the town.
''The descent of the shrine'' takes place on the Saturday evening. During a religious ceremony, the shrine is taken down from its [[altar]]. The priest gives the shrine (kept all year in the Collegiate Church of St. Waudru) to the town authorities for the duration of the festival. Then a procession with torches begins in the streets of the town.


On the morning of Trinity Sunday, the shrine is placed on the ''Car d’Or'', which is a [[gilded]] [[Wagon|dray]], and the procession begins. The ''Car d’Or'' is pulled through the streets by [[draft horse]]s. The carriage is accompanied by several [[guild]]s that represent the history of the region. At the end of the procession, the ''Car d’Or'' has to climb a steep, [[cobblestone]] street, the ''Rampe Sainte-Waudru''. To help the horses with the immense weight, hundreds of people gather behind to push. Local superstition holds that if the Car d'Or doesn't reach the top of the hill in one go, the city will suffer great misfortune. This happened in 1803, due to the [[French Revolution]], in 1914 and in 1940, just prior to the First and Second World Wars.
On the morning of Trinity Sunday, the shrine is placed on the ''Car d'Or'' ("Golden [[Chariot (carriage)|Chariot]]"), which is a [[gilded]] [[Wagon|dray]], and the procession begins. The ''Car d’Or'' is pulled through the streets by [[draft horse]]s. The carriage is accompanied by several [[guild]]s that represent the history of the region. At the end of the procession, the ''Car d’Or'' has to climb a steep, [[cobblestone]] street, the ''Rampe Sainte-Waudru''. To help the horses with the immense weight, hundreds of people gather behind to push. Local superstition holds that if the ''Car d'Or'' does not reach the top of the hill in one go, the city will suffer great misfortune. This happened in 1803, due to the [[French Revolution]], as well as in 1914 and in 1940, just prior to the two world wars.


At the end of the week, the shrine is returned to its rightful place in Sainte-Waudru Collegiat Church with great ceremony.
At the end of the week, the shrine is returned to its rightful place in the church with great ceremony.


===The game of Saint George===
===The game of Saint George===
This game is played on the Trinity Sunday between 12:30 (p.m.) and 13:00 (1 p.m.). It represents the fight between Saint George (the good) and the dragon (the evil). The fight is called ''Lumeçon''. This name comes from the old French name ''Limaçon'' (old French name meaning a spectacle with horses that made circular movements.)
[[Image:Saint-Georges-et-dragon.jpg|thumb|200px|19th-century engraving showing the combat of Saint George and the dragon.]]

[[Image:060611 Mons (24).jpg|thumb|200px|Saint George and the ''Chinchins''.]]
The combat happens on the Grand-Place of Mons. The length of the dragon is about {{convert|10|m}}. The end of his tail is covered with horses' hairs ([[Mane (horse)|mane]]). The dragon is displaced with the help of the white men (French: ''Hommes blancs''). Saint George is protected by the ''Chinchins'' who represent dogs. The dragon is helped by the devils (French: ''Les diables''). Each devil is armed with a cow [[Urinary bladder|bladder]] full of air (the balloon in the past before plastic had been developed). With this weapon, they knock the ''Chinchins'' and the public that are placed all around the arena. The dragon attacks Saint George with his [[tail]]. The dragon also attacks the public. So the public is also an important participant in the fight. People try to take the mane of the tail because it is said to bring luck for a year. Finally, there are also the ''Leaf men'' (French: ''Hommes de feuilles'') that are covered with real leaves of [[ivy]]. They help the dragon by defending and supporting his tail.
This game is played on the Trinity Sunday between 12:30 (p.m.) and 13:00 (1 p.m.). It represents the fight between Saint George (the good) and the dragon (the evil). The fight is called ''Lumeçon''. This name comes from the old French name ''Limaçon'' (old French name meaning a spectacle with horses that made circular movements.)

The combat happens on the central square of Mons. The length of the dragon is about 10 metres. The end of his tail is covered with horses' hairs ([[Mane (horse)|mane]]). The dragon is displaced with the help of the white men (''fr:Hommes blancs'').
The combat is precisely choreographed. Saint George on his horse turns clockwise, and the dragon turns in the other direction (this is a reference to good versus evil). Saint George tries to kill the dragon with his [[lance]] but the lance always breaks on contacting the dragon's skin. Saint George uses a pistol and finally kills the dragon on the third try. At 13:00 (1 p.m.), the participants leave the square, people rush into the arena to find the last lucky manes which have fallen on the ground. And the [[carillon]] of Mons rings.
Saint George is protected by the ''Chinchins'' who represent dogs. The dragon is helped by the devils (French: ''Les diables''). Each devil is armed with a cow [[Urinary bladder|bladder]] full of air (the balloon in the past before plastic had been developed). With this weapon, they knock the ''Chinchins'' and the public that are placed all around the arena. The dragon attacks Saint George with his [[tail]]. The dragon also attacks the public. So the public is also an important participant in the fight. People try to take the mane of the tail because it is said to bring luck for a year.
Finally, there are also the ''Leaf men'' (fr:''Hommes de feuilles'') that are covered with real leaves of [[ivy]]. They help the dragon by defending and supporting his tail.
The combat is precisely choreographed.
Saint George on his horse turns clockwise. And the dragon turns in the other direction. (This is a reference to good versus evil).
Saint George tries to kill the dragon with his [[lance]] but the lance always breaks on contacting the dragon's skin. Saint George uses a pistol and finally kills the dragon on the third try. At 13:00 (1 p.m.), the participants leave the square, people rush into the arena to find the last lucky manes which have fallen on the ground. And the [[carillon]] of Mons rings.


==Other information==
==Other information==
* A big concert is organised the Friday evening before Trinity on the central square of Mons.
* A big concert is organised on the Friday evening before Trinity weekend on the Grand-Place of Mons, during which [[military band]]s from all over the world play music, and a ''braderie'' (street clearance sale) is organised on the Monday after.
* Another combat is organised on the following Sunday. The combat is reserved for children (public and actors). The dragon is lighter than the original.
* [[Military band]]s from all over the world play concerts every day in Mons.
* The streets of the centre of the town are a [[pedestrian zone]] during the festivities. These streets are full of people listening to music, eating [[French fries|Belgian chips]], [[barbecue|barbecuing]], and drinking [[Belgian beer]] and soda.
* A ''braderie'' (street clearance sale) is organised on Monday.
* Another combat is organised on next Sunday. The combat is reserved for the children (Public and actors). The dragon is lighter than the original.
* The streets of the centre of the town are a [[pedestrian zone]] during the festivities. These streets are full of people listening to music, eating [[French fries|Belgian chips]], [[barbecue]], and drinking a lot of [[Belgian beer]] and soda.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="150" heights="150">
<center>
File:050522 Mons procession JPG0109.jpg|Procession of the ''Car d'Or''
<gallery widths="150" heights="150" perrow="4">
Image:050522 Mons procession JPG0110.jpg
File:050522 Mons Car d'Or JPG02.jpg|Procession of the ''Car d'Or''
File: Le Car d'Or.jpg|The ''Car d'Or''
Image:060611 Mons (135).JPG|
Image:050522 Mons procession JPG0109.jpg|
File:050522 Mons procession JPG0108.jpg|Shrine on the ''Car d'Or''
Image:050522 Mons Car d'Or JPG02.jpg|
File:060611 Mons (161).jpg|The ''Iron man''
File:060611 Mons (20).JPG|The little dragon for the kids' day
Image:050522 Mons procession JPG0108.jpg|Shrine on the ''Car d'or''
Image:060611 Mons (161).jpg|The ''Iron man''.
File:060611 Mons (49).JPG|A fraternity named ''Beubeux''
Image:060611 Mons (20).JPG|The little dragon for the kid's day
File:050522 Mons (71).JPG|Peoples after the combat on the Grand-Place
File:Image050522 Mons Car d'Or JPG01.jpg|Raising of the ''Car d'Or'' on the ''Rampe Sainte-Waudru''
Image:060611 Mons (49).JPG|A fraternity named ''Beubeux''.
Image:050522 Mons (71).JPG|Peoples after the combat on the central square.
File:Mons D 050521 (41).JPG|The ''Car d'Or'' arrives at the Grand-Place
File:060611 Mons (24).jpg|Saint George and the ''Chinchins''
Image:MonsSchrijn.jpg|The shrine.
Image:Mons D 050521 (41).JPG|''Car d'Or'' on the central square.
Image:Image050522 Mons Car d'Or JPG01.jpg|Uprising of the ''Car d'Or'' on the ''rampe Sainte-Waudru''.

</gallery>
</gallery>
</center>


==Dates==
==References==

* 2015 : 31 May
===Footnotes===
* 2016 : 22 May
{{notelist-ua}}
* 2017 : 11 June

* 2018 : 27 May
===Citations===
* 2019 : 16 June
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Bowker|first=John|title=The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|year=1999|isbn=0-19-866242-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Goblet d'Alviella|first=Eugène|title=Circumambulation in: Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics|volume=3|location=Edinburgh|publisher=T. & T. Clark|year=1908|url=http://books2.scholarsportal.info/viewdoc.html?id=121134}}


== External links ==
==External links==
* {{fr icon}} [http://www.ducassedemons.info/ Official website]
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.ducassedemons.info/ Official website]
* {{fr icon}} [http://www.doudou.mons.be/ Official website of the city of Mons about Ducasse]
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.doudou.mons.be/ Official website of the city of Mons about Ducasse]


{{Trinity Sunday}}
{{Trinity Sunday}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]
[[Category:Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]
[[Category:Belgian folklore]]
[[Category:Belgian folklore]]
[[Category:Festivals in Belgium]]
[[Category:Parades in Belgium]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hainaut (province)]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Hainaut (province)]]
[[Category:Culture in Mons]]
[[Category:Culture in Mons]]

Latest revision as of 06:00, 10 August 2024

Ducasse de Mons
The fight called Lumeçon (the dragon and the white men pictured)
StatusActive
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Mons
CountryBelgium
Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France
CountryBelgium
Reference00153
RegionEurope and North America
Inscription history
Inscription2008 (3rd session)
ListRepresentative

The Ducasse de Mons, also commonly known as the Doudou, is a traditional folk festival held in Mons, Hainaut, Belgium, on Trinity Sunday (57 days after Easter). The feast comprises two important parts: the procession, including the descent and the uprising of the Saint Waltrude's shrine, as well as the combat named Lumeçon between Saint George and a dragon. Since 2008, it is recognised as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.[1]

History

[edit]

The Ducasse de Mons or Doudou originates in the Middle Ages.[2] Its origins are difficult to pin down exactly. It has been attested since the 13th century[3] (the first known mention dates from 1248). It is a procession or ducasse[A] with act of "circumambulation" around a religious symbol (e.g. a statue of the city's patron saint), in Latin circumambulatio or amburbium,[4] which can be found in many religions and beliefs.[5]

The shrine of Saint Waltrude

A tenacious but erroneous legend connects the Ducasse to the plague. In 1349, because Mons was touched by a plague epidemic (the famous Black Death), the authorities decided to organise a procession with the shrine of Saint Waltrude, the city's patroness. The shrine was brought to Casteau (a little village located between Mons and Soignies that has been the location of SHAPE since 1967). At the same time, the shrine of Vincent Madelgarus (Waltrude's husband) that was based in Soignies was also taken to the same place. After this procession, the plague disappeared. The miracle was attributed to Saint Waudru and it was decided to repeat the procession every year.

Through the following decades, what was originally a religious procession took on gradually a more worldly outlook. In 1352, the date was fixed on Trinity Sunday. After 1380, the fraternity of Saint George appeared in the procession, made up of members of the nobility, the city's mayor and aldermen. From 1440, the reconstitution of the combat between Saint George and a dragon took its place in the feast. The separation between the religious parts of the feast and the non religious began at this time. As the procession gradually acquired a more secular character, it became a social event in which all the city's constituents participate.

During the second half of the 16th century, the Ducasse was dependent on political and religious upheavals in the Spanish Low Countries. In 1786, the combat of Saint George and the dragon was suppressed following an edict promulgated by Emperor Joseph II of Austria.[6] Another vicissitude, French revolutionaries suppressed the game in 1794. The Concordat of 1801 restored the procession and the fight. The procession did not take place in 1803. Because of the "less religious" origin, the combat was excluded once again from the procession in 1819 following measures taken by King William I of the Netherlands.

19th-century engraving showing the combat of Saint George and the dragon

The tradition continued during the 19th and 20th centuries with more or less success. It was around 1930, under the impetus of Canon Edmond Puissant, that the procession regained its vigour, thanks to the creation of new groups and a renewal of costumes. Between 1973 and the 2000s, the game was reviewed and structured in the sense of diegesis (a style of fictional storytelling) by Georges Raepers, lawyer at the Bar Association of Mons. The celebrations were not held during World War I and World War II, as well as in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium.[7]

In 2008, the Ducasse de Mons was recognised as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, as part of the bi-national inscription 'Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France'.[1]

Planning

[edit]

The feast begins from the Saturday before Trinity Sunday to the next Sunday. As an eight-day festival with a specific liturgy, it can be called an octave.

The Procession

[edit]

The descent of the shrine takes place on the Saturday evening. During a religious ceremony, the shrine is taken down from its altar. The priest gives the shrine (kept all year in the Collegiate Church of St. Waudru) to the town authorities for the duration of the festival. Then a procession with torches begins in the streets of the town.

On the morning of Trinity Sunday, the shrine is placed on the Car d'Or ("Golden Chariot"), which is a gilded dray, and the procession begins. The Car d’Or is pulled through the streets by draft horses. The carriage is accompanied by several guilds that represent the history of the region. At the end of the procession, the Car d’Or has to climb a steep, cobblestone street, the Rampe Sainte-Waudru. To help the horses with the immense weight, hundreds of people gather behind to push. Local superstition holds that if the Car d'Or does not reach the top of the hill in one go, the city will suffer great misfortune. This happened in 1803, due to the French Revolution, as well as in 1914 and in 1940, just prior to the two world wars.

At the end of the week, the shrine is returned to its rightful place in the church with great ceremony.

The game of Saint George

[edit]

This game is played on the Trinity Sunday between 12:30 (p.m.) and 13:00 (1 p.m.). It represents the fight between Saint George (the good) and the dragon (the evil). The fight is called Lumeçon. This name comes from the old French name Limaçon (old French name meaning a spectacle with horses that made circular movements.)

The combat happens on the Grand-Place of Mons. The length of the dragon is about 10 metres (33 ft). The end of his tail is covered with horses' hairs (mane). The dragon is displaced with the help of the white men (French: Hommes blancs). Saint George is protected by the Chinchins who represent dogs. The dragon is helped by the devils (French: Les diables). Each devil is armed with a cow bladder full of air (the balloon in the past before plastic had been developed). With this weapon, they knock the Chinchins and the public that are placed all around the arena. The dragon attacks Saint George with his tail. The dragon also attacks the public. So the public is also an important participant in the fight. People try to take the mane of the tail because it is said to bring luck for a year. Finally, there are also the Leaf men (French: Hommes de feuilles) that are covered with real leaves of ivy. They help the dragon by defending and supporting his tail.

The combat is precisely choreographed. Saint George on his horse turns clockwise, and the dragon turns in the other direction (this is a reference to good versus evil). Saint George tries to kill the dragon with his lance but the lance always breaks on contacting the dragon's skin. Saint George uses a pistol and finally kills the dragon on the third try. At 13:00 (1 p.m.), the participants leave the square, people rush into the arena to find the last lucky manes which have fallen on the ground. And the carillon of Mons rings.

Other information

[edit]
  • A big concert is organised on the Friday evening before Trinity weekend on the Grand-Place of Mons, during which military bands from all over the world play music, and a braderie (street clearance sale) is organised on the Monday after.
  • Another combat is organised on the following Sunday. The combat is reserved for children (public and actors). The dragon is lighter than the original.
  • The streets of the centre of the town are a pedestrian zone during the festivities. These streets are full of people listening to music, eating Belgian chips, barbecuing, and drinking Belgian beer and soda.
[edit]
  • Procession of the Car d'Or
    Procession of the Car d'Or
  • Procession of the Car d'Or
    Procession of the Car d'Or
  • The Car d'Or
    The Car d'Or
  • Shrine on the Car d'Or
    Shrine on the Car d'Or
  • The Iron man
    The Iron man
  • The little dragon for the kids' day
    The little dragon for the kids' day
  • A fraternity named Beubeux
    A fraternity named Beubeux
  • Peoples after the combat on the Grand-Place
    Peoples after the combat on the Grand-Place
  • Raising of the Car d'Or on the Rampe Sainte-Waudru
    Raising of the Car d'Or on the Rampe Sainte-Waudru
  • The Car d'Or arrives at the Grand-Place
    The Car d'Or arrives at the Grand-Place
  • Saint George and the Chinchins
    Saint George and the Chinchins

References

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ The French word ducasse refers to a procession; the Processional Giants of Ath and Mons are part of each city's ducasse.

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France - intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  2. ^ Fr. De Vriendt, Une myriade de processions. Les cortèges religieux à Mons au Moyen Âge et à l'Époque Moderne, and Du rite sacré au cortège civique. Nouvelles données sur les origines et l'histoire de la Procession (in French), in La Ducasse rituelle de Mons, Brussels, 2013, p. 71–76 and p. 77–89
  3. ^ JP Ducastelle, Mons et le combat du Lumeçon dans Géants et dragons (in French), collective work, Casterman, 1996, p. 110 and seq.
  4. ^ Goblet d'Alviella 1908, p. 667–669.
  5. ^ Bowker 1999, p. 224.
  6. ^ E. Hubert, L'Edit de Joseph II sur les kermesses 11 février 1786 (in French), in Université de Liège, Ouverture des cours le 18 octobre 1921, Liège, 1921, p. 5–34.
  7. ^ "« Covid-19 » Le Doudou n'aura pas lieu le 7 juin — Ville de Mons". www.mons.be (in French). Retrieved 26 June 2022.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
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