2023-08-07 15:21:00
It was the first time that it was easy to clear a passage during the procession of the Carnival of the Sun, in Houffalize. This Sunday, August 6 afternoon, the thirty-two floats paraded under a national drache which left no respite to any carnival group.
“A little more or a little less…”
We had to wait for the departure time of the procession to see the main street fill up moderately, unlike previous editions, where it was packed with people. The public was indeed shy, some preferring to skip the highlight of the show this weekend given the weather.
It must be said that no one was spared, neither the spectators with their hoods and umbrellas, nor the carnival groups to whom we take our hats off. Because it took courage to parade, between gusts of wind and showers.
An hour before the parade, however, under the arbors installed along the road, the different groups were refining their make-up in the hope that the rain would stop. In vain. Everyone got in shape and prepared themselves psychologically to be soaked from head to toe, some giving themselves a good dose of courage with a drink and others taking refuge under a transparent jacket to parade.
It should be noted that the procession of the Carnival of the Sun has not experienced much rain over the past twenty years, some have also remembered that which fell in 2009. “It had rained, but not like today”, could be heard a few minutes before departure. Or: “A little more or a little less, it won’t change much”.
The luckiest? Those who towed the tanks
However, on the faces, it was mainly the smiles that prevailed because basically, it was necessary to ensure the show. Some even played the situation to the end by parading barefoot. The luckiest in terms of weather were undoubtedly those who towed the floats, a roof over their heads, or those who watched the parade from their balcony. A place of choice this year that many have envied.
But the great faithful of the procession would not have missed this colorful parade along the main street for the world, enjoying the interaction with the participants, trying to catch the candies thrown from the top of the floats, s showering confetti and greeting friends or family members. The big drops finally didn’t stop anyone from dancing and singing. This is the case of the Carnival of the Sun group which took the start last with, on board, Princess Estelle and King Laurent 1st. The two inductees did not fail to set the mood while waiting for the big moment.
And then, a Carnival of the Sun in the rain, that also has its charm. It brings closer. The participants laugh at the situation, sometimes yellow and sometimes at the top of their lungs. We sympathize. We support each other. It creates memories and many will talk about it for a long time. Besides, life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain. A philosophy oh so true this Sunday and which was in the minds of many.
The most important thing is that the long downpour and the wind did not spoil the floats and the costumes, which took months of work. This year again, everyone was more beautiful than the other. All that remains is for the participants to treat their bad cold this week.
The most beautiful tank, that of the Midistilfous
If you were at the Carnival of the Sun in Houffalize, you couldn’t have missed the thousands of balloons descending the main street of the city, whether tied together to form gigantic snowmen or beautiful dresses in yellow, blue and red. It was the carnival group of Midistilfous, from the locality. A hundred actors marched in the traditional procession. In total, no fewer than 6,000 balloons were inflated in just two days. The carnival group also won the prize in the competition for the most beautiful float this year. A great recognition in view of the work provided the hours preceding the procession.
A quiet weekend for restaurants
The weekend was very sad for the restaurants in the center of Houffalize despite the Carnival of the Sun. Almost none filled its room and its terrace. The guilty ? The weather, of course.
If in other years, thousands of people joined the center of the locality to enjoy the procession, the number has been greatly reduced for this 2023 edition, leaving the restaurateurs on their own. “Usually, we can count between 5,000 and 6,000 people in Houffalize, explains the manager of the Italian pizzeria. But this year, there was really nobody. It was a catastrophic weekend for us “We didn’t sell beers at the pump or a single cone of pasta to take away. Only a few people ate pizza on site. Over the whole weekend, we have 35% fewer tourists.”
Opposite, at the Alta Falesia restaurant, the same story goes: “This year, the weekend was really very calm because of the rain, explains the boss. We had practically no customers, whereas in other years , we have a lot of tourists.
Down the main street, this weekend is described as “horrible”. At the restaurant Le Rallye too, we can only see a lack of customers: “It’s not a normal year, says the boss. I’ve been here for 20 years and it’s the first time I’ve known a time the same. With the rain and the wind, we only opened a small terrace instead of our large terrace which can accommodate 200 people. Even if we are happy with the atmosphere that the carnival brings to Houffalize this year was not good”.
Higher up, towards Saint-Roch, the restaurant l’Ephé-roc is not satisfied with the weekend either: “We worked 3/4, explains the manager. We have the particularity of being off-center , we do not have a passage in front of our establishment. We work by reservation and most of our customers are local. Except that the inhabitants went to see the procession. And then, the weather made it a little complicated, we did not open the terrace”.
Estelle and Lo 1er, royal couple of the year
Two well-known people in the commune of Houffalize had the honor of being chosen as King and Princess of the carnival.
This year, two people were inducted for this 21st edition, thus forming a royal couple. They are Estelle Schloune, who has become a princess, and Laurent Marchal, now King. Both officially took office on Saturday evening.
“It’s a lot of emotions”
Since April, the Committee of the Carnival of the Sun had succeeded in keeping the secret. Both known to be bon vivants, Estelle Schloune and Laurent Marchal took pleasure in being inducted on Saturday evening. Estelle Schloune, a student in Romance languages, has always participated in the carnival. This year, it is therefore quite naturally that she agreed to become a princess.
“With the rain, the induction into the balcony of the Commune could not be done, she regrets. So we did it in the marquee, it was a bit unprecedented. They hid me in a car with a blanket and I was taken to a marquee where Laurent was. This is where I found out who my king was. We then marched past a guard of honor from all our courts who greeted us It was a lot of joy, it’s great to represent the town and to dance everywhere. We meet a lot of people, we talk to a lot of people. It’s a lot of emotions at the same time.”
Before the parade, the young woman walked up the main street, wearing a magnificent green dress. “It scared us a little when we noticed that there weren’t many people in the street. But the atmosphere is there.”
“It is a dream”
Laurent, alias Lo 1er, is from the village of Cetturu. “I’m a carnival fan, he says proudly. I do it every year. Being inducted is a dream, it’s really very nice”
Always smiling and fond of a good atmosphere, Lo 1er sang and danced alongside his princess until his chariot, in the shape of the sun, took off at the end of the procession. “It’s a great happiness. It’s not easy to describe the feelings I have. It’s really a great pleasure.”
Both will long remember their induction which is a festive moment year after year.
The new Princess Estelle and King Lo 1er celebrated the start of their reign with dignity. ©EdA
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