Highlight of the Ducasse d’Ath, the fight between David and the giant Goliath was again won on Saturday afternoon by the little shepherd, a sign of benefactor for the Athois. The festivities continue on Sunday with the procession going out into town.
We were waiting to discover the new aspect of the “Savage”, one of the extras who became the “Devil”, a controversial subject which caused the event to lose its registration by Unesco on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. . “I was really badly hurt, and the Athois also by the way we were excluded. We can share the fact of making a request again or not, but as long as I am mayor, we will not make one. (Despite the new aspect of the “Savage”) We did not lose. I think that Unesco made a mistake. We have a magnificent folklore, a magnificent procession, I think they missed something”, declared the mayor of Ath, Bruno Lefebvre, to our microphone.
Organized every fourth weekend of August, a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, the Ducasse d’Ath began Friday afternoon with the release of the giant Tirant then, with the Grand Prix du Mayeur archery on the Esplanade square.
On the same site, the evening continued with the burning of the “chestnuts” of the giant Goliath. After a parade in town, the bearers of the giant set fire to the character’s gigantic pants, stuffed with straw.
The festivity officially resumed on Saturday noon with the ringing of “Julienne”, the big bell of the Saint-Julien church. Around 3:00 p.m., escorted by the group of Blues, the giant Goliath and his lady went dancing from the Town Hall to the Saint-Julien church where the couple’s vespers were celebrated.
These vespers, sung by the “Crescendo” choir of Zottegem, took place in the presence of the ecclesiastical and political authorities of the region, including Bruno Lefebvre, mayor of Ath; Ludivine Dedonder, Minister of Defense and Rudy Demotte, President of the Parliament of the French Community. At the end of the afternoon, in mixed weather conditions, the newlyweds returned to the Hôtel de Ville where the shepherd David was to face the Philistine giant on the Grand-Place.
During this single combat, which took place in front of thousands of people, the two protagonists recited a dialogue called the “Bonimée”. Like last year, the role of the little shepherd was played by eight-year-old Antoine Quittelier. During the previous edition, the boy had won his fight.
The saledu evening will begin with a carillon concert, then with that of the Royal Union Saint-Martin fanfare in front of the Town Hall and will end with a torchlight parade of the “Canon du Mont Sarah” through the streets of the town. . The participants will animate the streets by singing, in particular an air of the Muette de Portici.
On Sunday, the procession departed at 9:45 a.m. from the station. This parade attracts more than 50,000 visitors. Composed of seven giants, eight allegorical floats, brass bands and historical groups, this procession will cross the city to arrive around 2:00 p.m. at the Esplanade. We can’t wait to discover the new face of the “Sauvage”, an extra animating the barge of the “Neapolitans” group.
In recent years, the presence of the “Savage”, an actor in the folk procession created in 1873, had sparked controversy, accused of racism because of his “blackface” make-up. Following this controversy, the Ducasse d’Ath had lost its registration by UNESCO a few months ago on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Faced with this situation, a citizens’ commission had been set up. In its conclusions, it was oriented towards the suppression of the “Savage” in favor of its original name, namely the Devil.
“Le Sauvage, as we know him, will be present at the start of the procession. He will evolve over the course of the procession and there will be a surprise at the end of the parade. I cannot say more for the moment. This fantastic devil n “will have more of a human appearance. This new presentation model will be fully effective during the 2024 ducasse”, announced the mayor of Ath, Bruno Lefebvre.
This Monday, August 28 will be marked by the walk of the giants in town. Their carriers will receive the thanks of the population. At 5:00 p.m., place for the parade of the Ste-Cécile brass band and the majorettes of Moulbaix on the Esplanade before the flight of hot air balloons at 6:00 p.m.
ducasse color
2023-08-27 09:43:00
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