Ahen the festive program of the Ducasse de Mons began a few days ago, the people of Mons entered the ritual phase of the “Doudou” on Saturday evening. The festivities, canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the health crisis, take place from June 8 to 19.
The traditional ritual moments, recognized since 2005 as “masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity” by UNESCO, began on Saturday evening (8 p.m.) with the Descent of the Shrine of Saint-Waudru at the Collegiate Church of Mons. Sunday begins at 7:45 a.m. with the Solemn Mass of the Trinity at the Collegiate Church. This will be followed by the procession of Saint-Georges, the placing of the Shrine on the Car d’Or, the exit of the “Dragon”, the Procession of the Car d’Or from the Rampe Sainte-Waudru towards the town centre. The famous climb of the Car d’Or before its return to the Collegiate Church will take place at 12 noon, before the descent of the rue des Clercs towards the Grand-Place where the Combat dit Lumeçon between Saint-Georges and the Dragon will take place. These ritual festivities will be repeated on Sunday June 19 on the Grand-Place as part of the “Petit Lumeçon” event, the aim of which is to pass on the tradition to children. The ascent of the Châsse de Sainte-Waudru to the Collegiate Church will punctuate the official end of the Ducasse de Mons at the end of the afternoon.