In the north of the village, lie the ruins of the Villers Abbey, which was one of the most important Cistercian abbeys of Europe founded in the 12th Century.
This time I didn't go there to walk amongst the ruins but outside to see the carnival procession, which takes place each year.
Unfortunately the weather was cold and grey and the poor people in their costumes were freezing. But that didn't matter at all, they all had a lot of fun and beer was warming up anyway !
The procession
Monks and a canon to shoot confetti on the public !
The band in the procession
All kind of costumes
The tractor had to pull the carnival wagons
Need a surgery ? here there are surgeons !
The giants of Villers
Beautiful dresses
Clowns and dancers
Doctors, nurses and an "ambulance"
Of course pirates could not be missed
Pigs and cows have fun together
Stewards and pilots in front of an airplane
and the others with fancy costume or masks.
There also was a huge tent with a lot of different food and drinks, and a fancy fair for the kids.
more participants here
The parade looks like great fun. At least it wasn't raining.
ReplyDeleteWonderful coverage of the event. Gala time is here.
ReplyDeleteHi Gattina - looks wonderful fun to be amongst ... but it was a cold and wet weekend ... so glad you were able to go and enjoy yourselves ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThose pigs and cows look quite warm in their costumes. Those stewardesses though...
ReplyDeletesuper Gattina, this year I seem to be missing everything (Chinese new year, Oruro festival, Venise masks in Brussels...)
ReplyDeleteFestivals are so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI love the red and black uniforms of the marching band. Hope you are having a great week!
Interesting. What a great tradition.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Looks like a fun day out. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun day out, some amazing costumes and a lovely tradition.
ReplyDeleteNice costumes. It looked like you had fun.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. Nice captures of the parade.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, such fun. We learned about Mardi Gras (same as Carnaval) when we stayed in Alabama one winter -- it was such fun to celebrate with all the parades and parties. Where we grew up in the Pacific Northwest corner of the USA, we knew nothing about this. We had Lent (I went to Catholic grade school) but no celebration leading up to it. Only the suffering part of it ;>)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lot of fun. And what a charming town too.
ReplyDelete