Stavelot Carnival, Belgium
Nijmegen Carnival (Knotsenburg), Netherlands
Malmedy Carnival, Belgium
Content of this article
What is the Stavelot Carnival?
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The Stavelot Carnival is a traditional carnival held every fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Sunday of Laetare, in the Belgian town of Stavelot in the province of Liége. This tradition is the most famous in Wallonia, one of the three regions that make up Belgium. The carnivals of Stavelot are known for their main attraction, the “Blancs-Moussis” or “Les Blancs-Moussis”.
During carnivals, two groups that always maintain their theme stand out. One of them is the Réveil Ardennais, who participate intraditional dances such as the maclotte la polka, the second is the Sisterhood of the Blancs-Moussis.
The Blancs-Moussis are the main attraction of the festivities and are characters or mysterious figures, dressed in white, with an elongated nose mask. They wander through the carnival, run, moan, jump, throw confetti and mock the crowd. In addition, they carry inflated pig bladders with them to beat up anyone they see.
This celebration also owes its reputation to theconfetti cannons that shoot more than 5 tons of these small multicolored papers into the crowd. The Stavelot carnivals are attended by some 2,200 people and are visited by 35,000 others.
The Blancs-Moussis are the main characters of the Stavelot carnival.
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When is the Stavelot Carnival?
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The Stavelot carnival is held on the fourth Sunday so it is subject to change constantly. Thus, the Stavelot Carnival will take place on approximately Sunday, March 14.
History of the Stavelot Carnivals
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For several centuries the city of Stavelot was the capital of the Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy, which was ruled by a Prince-Abbot or Prince-Bishop. The prince is known to have forbidden his clergymen to participate in the popular festivities. According to legend, the inhabitants of Stavelot decided to mock this prohibition by disguising themselves as monks. This feat was not well received, as the celebration was banned again.
In 1502 they decided to wear a white hooded costume, evoking the monastic habit. This costume was eventually authorized by the prince abbot. Later the inhabitants of Stavelot added a mask without concrete features, a long red nose which started the iconic Blancs-Moussis..
Over time they became an emblematic group and symbol of the folklore of the region and have existed for more than 5 centuries. Despite this, during the French occupation, they were unable to carry out their traditional activities until 1820. In 1947, they created a fraternity with brilliant costumes and the group continued to grow to become a folkloric icon of the country and the city..
Where is the Stavelot Carnival
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The carnivals are held in the community of Stavelot, in the Wallonia region, located in the province of Liège, Belgium. The parade takes place in the city center and the ceremony with the Blancs-Moussis at Place Saint-Remacle.
The Blancs-Moussis accompany the parade during the Stavelot carnivals
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How the Stavelot Carnival is celebrated
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Stavelor’s carnival celebrations begin Saturday night with a procession of 1,200 participants in glittering costumes and allegorical floats filled with lights. The day ends with a dance at Stavelot Abbey.
Sunday afternoon features a great carnival procession with 2,500 participants parading through the city. A dozen local groups participate in a large contest wearing colorful costumes. You can also find the carrozas, different entertainment spots, dances and several music bands. The last group to perform are the Blancs-Moussis who practically bathe in confeti, dance, hit people’s heads with inflated pig bladders, and entertain people by jumping and goofing around. At the end of their performance, they congregate around the fountain and start dancing around it, forming a big circle where they dance and twirl.
The events are collective projects of the city and every year there is a parade of local folk groups, but there are also some foreign groups.
Tips for going to the Stavelot Carnivals
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We advise you to plan your trip in advance as the Stavelot Carnival is one of the most popular and visited carnivals in the area. Therefore, it is not surprising that the lodging in the area is collapsed during the celebrations.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:.
Events at Stavelot Carnival
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The events comprising these carnivals take place over the three days of festivities.
On the first day, there is a night parade with floats full of lights, accompanied by the groups that cheer, dance and sing to the rhythm of the band. At the end, they all congregate in the Abbey of Stavelot for a dance.
The next day people congregate again for a more elaborate parade. Also taking part are the allegorical floats, the groups and the musical bands. Several presentations and dances of the different groups take place and at the end the Blancs-Moussis, the most expected group of the carnivals, are presented. The Blancs-Moussis congregate around the fountain and begin to spin, creating a circle of dancers dressed in white full of confetti. At the end of the evening there is a fireworks event.
On the last day of the carnivals, there is a celebration with the different folklore groups and musicals. After this, the closing ceremony and the carnivals are brought to an end.
The Blancs-Moussis dance takes place around the fountain after the Stavelot carnival parade
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Stavelot Carnival Parades
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There are two parades, the first is held duringthe evening of the first day with floats full of lights that functions as a small opening celebration. The second occurs during the second day which is the most anticipated day with the most events.
The second parade begins with the characteristic colorful floats, the dances, the dresses and multicolored costumes accompanied by the musical bands. At the end of the parade begins with the presentation of the Blancs-Moussis, the kings of the carnivals.
Parade route
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Stavelot carnival parade takes place on the second day of celebrations and runs through the whole town
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The start of the second parade begins on the Avenue du Doyard, then goes down the Rue Neuve, crossing the Rue du Vinâve. Continue along Rue Haute and Avenue Des Démineurs to the traffic circle. Arrived at the end of the city, the procession begins its final ascent along des Tanneries street, du Haut Rivage street and Vinâve to reach the Saint-Remacle place where the Dance of the Blancs-Moussis will begin.
The Beignets of Stavelot are sweets of the region. They are fried dough and sprinkled with sugar
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What to eat at the Stavelot Carnival
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One of the best known and most consumed dishes of the region are the Beignets of Stavelot, they are small balls of dough with almonds that are fried and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. One of the traditional carnival dishes is Eûrèye, a combination of vegetables, potatoes, bacon and sausages.
If you want to check out some local eateries, we recommend the following: Le Val D’Ambleve, Friterie Sebastien and L’Epicurieux.
Eûrèye is a traditional carnival dish eaten in Stavelot
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Travel Insurance
From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:
What to see and do inside the Stavelot Carnival
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Within the carnival you can be part of the different events that are organized in the city of Stavelot. You can attend the first night parade held on the first day of the festivities, where you will find the carriages illuminated by hundreds of lights accompanied by the participants in bright costumes. In addition, that same day you can attend the city dance.
During the second day, you can attend a daytime parade, bigger and with larger participation. After this, the Blancs-Moussis perform and you can witness their jokes in the streets, their tonnage and their humor. At the end you can see its great show shows dance around the fountain and during the night watch the fireworks show.
On the third day you can see the different folklore and musical groups and finally the closing ceremony.
What to see and do outside the Stavelot Carnivals
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Some of the attractions you can visit in the city are:
PlopsaCoo
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It is an aquatic amusement park with different attractions. Here you can find different activities specially designed for children, contact with animals and some minor roller coasters.
L’abbaye de Stavelot
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It is a historic structure that functioned as a Benedictine monastery, was founded in 651 and closed in 1804. Today it contains large exhibits and museums of different types.
Musee du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
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It is a non-governmental organization that opened its doors to the public in 1984. Since 2002 it has been part of the L’abbaye de Stavelot as one of the exhibition museums. In the museum you can find different collection vehicles and different pieces of art of great value.
Safety at the Stavelot Carnivals
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The community of Stavelot as well as the city of Liège are safe places. However, it is not advisable for women to go out alone at night, as there have been reported cases of where young female students reported some assaults in the streets. Be alert especially at night and contact the relevant agencies if you see any suspicious activity.
Also, make sure to keep your valuables in a safe place to avoid theft and loss. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your valuables safe:
Weather at the Stavelot Carnival
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The weather during Stavelot Carnival is somewhat cold. The temperature ranges from 0 to 7 degrees Celsius. Pack clothes that will keep you warm during the festivities.
The Blancs-Moussis fool around, dance and annoy people during the Stavelot carnivals
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How to get to the Stavelot Carnivals
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How to get there by plane
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The closest airport to Stavelot is Liège Airport. Once there, use the available means of transportation to head to the town of Stavelot.
How to get there by train
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To arrive by train you need to take two buses. Once at Liège Airport, take the line 53 bus that will take you to Jemeppe Gare Routière. Once there, take the bus line 2 or 3 to liege gare des guillemins quai C. Finally take the train to Trois-Ponts which will take you to Trois-Ponts Gare SNCB. From there take the bus on line 745, 294, 753 or 750 to Stavelot.
How to get there by bus
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From the Airport take bus line 53 or 85 to Liege Place St-Lambert. Transfer and take a bus from Liege Gare Léopold to Tavelot stopping at Verviers Gare Centrale.
How to get there by car
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From the airport take the E42 freeway to the town of Stavelot. The drive is 46 minutes.
Where to stay at Stavelot Carnival
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Ô ChÔmière
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Hotel 100 meters from the center. Rooms are equipped with closet, air conditioning and private bathroom. Facilities offer restaurant, bar and free internet.
Hotel Dufays
3-star hotel 450 meters from the center. All rooms have TV and free internet. The facilities offer private parking.
Le Coffee Ride
Hotel 3.5 km from the center. Free wifi, bar and daily breakfast prepared on the spot.
We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.
Thank you for reading
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