Whether it be winter or summer, autumn or spring, the Greater Region is alive with numerous popular festivals, processions, fairs and markets…
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european institute of cultural routes |
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| Claire Soriano |
| 01 September 2009 |
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| The Greater Region: seasons and their festivals |
Those fests attest to the living folkloric heritage and to the adoption of more recent traditions. Whether celebrated in the whole of the region or in a particular place, these festivals are eagerly anticipated every year and are highly successful.
In addition to its festivals, the lights of Saint Martin are lit in Wallonia and Moselle every 11th November to commemorate the death of Saint Martin de Tours. Saint Martin is a symbolic figure in the Greater Region, an area he travelled through on his way to Treves. The lights of Saint Martin are accompanied by a procession of lamps carried by children. Unfortunately, this tradition has been increasingly threatened by Halloween.
One of the biggest religious holidays in Luxembourg is the Octave. It takes place from the 3rd to the 5th Sunday after Easter in Luxembourg City in homage to Marie, patroness of the city. On this occasion, a procession of the Holy Virgin is organised at the Notre-Dame cathedral in Luxembourg City.
The Schueberfouer is another very important celebration in the Grand Duchy. It comprises an annual procession which is held at the end of August, beginning of September. Its origins date to the fourteenth century when John the Blind established a commercial market in the city.
In the Hainut province a fair takes place every year at the end of August at Ath. During the Ducasse, a fair and a procession of giants are set up. The giants are in fact wicker dolls measuring up to 4 metres which represent legendary heroes, fantastical animals and historical figures. This tradition comes from a religious procession dating back to the fifteenth century.
Every year since 1994 the town of Spa in the province of Liege has hosted a festival of Francophone songs, the Francofolies, following the example of the La Rochelle festival.
In the Saarland at the end of August every year since 1969 Merzig has held one of the biggest festivals of the region, the viez festival (viez is a cider from the Saarland).
Christmas markets, the feast of the Mirabelle in Metz, the Carnival of Eupen,, the World Festival of Marionette Theatres in Charleville-Mézières, the wine festival in Heimersheim and Nëssmoart at Vianden, discover the Greater Region through its festivals!
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