This Saturday afternoon, the shepherd David brought down the giant Goliath, to the ovations of the crowd. The ducasse began on Friday evening on the Place de l’Esplanade with the Mayeur grand prix in archery, then with the release of the giant Tirant and the carillon concert by Julien Govoorts.
The evening ended with the burning of the “chestnuts” of the giant Goliath, a local tradition created in 1986. This event consists of setting fire to the pants of the future husband, the day before his wedding.
The festivities continued Saturday noon with the ringing of the bell from the St-Julien church. This ring marks the official start of the ducasse. In the middle of the afternoon, escorted by the groups of the Blues and in front of thousands of spectators, the giant Goliath and his lady went dancing from the Hôtel de Ville to the church of St-Julien where the wedding of Mr and Mrs Goliath. Around 5:00 p.m., the newlyweds returned to City Hall where the little shepherd boy David confronted the Philistine giant.
This year, the role of David was interpreted by Antoine Quittelier, a boy aged seven and a half. Before the fight begins, the child and the giant insulted each other via a dialogue called the “Bonimée”. This game is inspired by a text by the French poet Guillaume Sallust du Bartas dating from the end of the 16th century.
Very calm, Antoine managed to defeat the giant Goliath to the delight of the Athois. The little shepherd having won the fight, the two giants then began their dance, as tradition dictates. In the evening, after the ducasse concert played by the Royale Fanfare Union St-Martin, the Canon du Mont Sarah group will move through the streets of the city with torches. Evoking the Belgian revolution of 1830, the participants will animate the streets by singing an air of the “Muette de Portici”.
On Sunday, the ducasse will begin with Chantal Mollet’s carillon concert (8 a.m.), then the procession will start from the station (9:45 a.m.), with seven giants, eight allegorical floats (L’Aigle à deux têtes, Samson, Ambiorix, Mademoiselle Victoire …) and historical groups. It will cross the city in one direction in the morning and in the other in the afternoon.
Among the extras, the “Savage” will be present, actor of the folk procession created in 1873. At the center of a controversy for a few years, because of “blackface”, he is kept in the procession but without some of his usual attributes , his chains and his nose ring.
Monday morning, the giants will walk in town with their carriers who will receive the thanks of the population. In the afternoon, the public will watch hot air balloons take off from the Esplanade (6:00 p.m.).
A masterpiece classified as an oral and intangible heritage of humanity since 2005 by Unesco, the ducasse attracts thousands of spectators every year.