Laetare de Stavelot

A "Blanc Moussi" in costume

The Laetare of Stavelot is a traditional carnival in the Belgian city Stavelot in the province of Liège that occurs every Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday). This tradition, one of the most famous in Wallonia, is also known for its principal attraction: the "Blancs Moussis".[1]

History

For several centuries the city of Stavelot was the capital of the Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy, which was ruled by a prince-abbot. He is said to have forbidden his clerics from taking part in the popular festivities. According to popular legend, the inhabitants of Stavelot, who enjoyed the participation of monks in the festivities, decided to make fun of this prohibition by dressing up as monks to celebrate carnival until this too was prohibited. Then, in 1502, they created a white costume with a hood referring more discreetly to the monastic habit.[2] This costume was finally accepted by the abbot. The Stavelotains added to the costume a strange mask with a very long, red and pointed nose. The Blancs Moussis (in English: White Clad[3]) were born.[4]

As an emblematic group of the Laetare de Stavelot and symbol of the Walloon folklore, the Blancs Moussis have so far existed for more than five centuries, but it was not always easy for them. During the French occupation, they could not go out and party anymore. Fortunately they came back stronger after 1820.

In 1947, they created a fraternity with sparkling costumes and the group never stopped growing. They became the dynamic ambassadors of Belgian folklore and are often invited as special guests to the Carnivals of Düsseldorf, Cologne, Compiègne, Saint-Quentin and elsewhere. This contributed to the good fame of Stavelot.

Customs

During the parade, the Blancs Moussis shower people with confetti, dance, hit people’s heads with inflated pig bladders, entertain the crowd, jump, grunt, imitate some persons. During the final part of the show on the Saint Remacle square, the Blancs Moussis lead the spectators in amazing farandoles around the monumental fountain.[5] Then they put up posters on the house walls and shop windows, posters with word games, making fun sometimes of the local inhabitants, victims of something funny, embarrassing,... the previous months.

With its 2,200 participants and 35,000 spectators, the Laetare of Stavelot is a really popular festival. It celebrated its half millennium in 2002 and attracted 47,000 people. In 2017, over 500 Blancs Moussis took part,[6] and almost 30,000 spectators were present.[7]

The event is a collective project of the entire city. Each year, there is a parade of local folklore groups but there are also some foreign groups.

It is also famous for the abundance of confetti,[8] with confetti cannons which throw more than 5 tons of multicolored paper into the crowd, but in recent years the use of confetti has been called into question.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Martin Dunford and Phil Lee, Belgium and Luxembourg (2002), 365.
  2. ↑ http://www.laetare-stavelot.be/laetare/peu-dhistoire/
  3. ↑ Antony Mason, Eyewitness Travel: Belgium & Luxembourg (2013), p. 32.
  4. ↑ Walter Fostier, Folk-lore vivant (1960), 31-32.
  5. ↑ Olivier Thunus, Carnaval: le Laetare de Stavelot va complètement changer de parcours, RTBF, 26 Jan. 2017, updated 27 Jan. 2017
  6. ↑ Olivier Thunus, Plus de 500 Blancs Moussis pour le 515ème Laetare de Stavelot, RTBF, 24 March 2017.
  7. ↑ Marie Bourguignon, "Près de 30 000 personnes ont assisté au Laetare de Stavelot", RTBF, 27 March 2017.
  8. ↑ Philippe Collette, Pluie de confettis attendue pour le 514ème Laetare de Stavelot, RTBF, 3 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Olivier Thunus, La survie du confetti lors des carnavals est-elle menacée?, RTBF, 7 Feb. 2017
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