Ducasse d'Ath

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Mr and Mrs Goliath dance across the Gadre Bridge, 23 August 2008

The Ducasse d'Ath is a traditional city festival in the city of Ath in the province of Hainaut in the French-speaking part of Belgium ( Wallonia ). Celebrated for the first time in the Middle Ages , it has developed into a popular multi-day festival that traditionally takes place on the fourth weekend in August. The importance of the festival is based primarily on its giant figures, which are steeped in tradition. Like many other comparable festivals, the custom in Ath has its origins in church processions.

Since 2005, the Ducasse d'Ath has been listed by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity under the title Processions of Giants and Dragons from Belgium and France .

Historical background

Mlle Victoire

Giant processions in Europe

The oldest known references to processional giants come from Portugal in the 13th century . The first image of a processional giant can be found in Antwerp in 1398. Giant processions have been handed down in 10 cities for the 15th century. Figures in these processions are the giant Goliath , St. Christopher , Hercules , Samson and the horse Bayard with the four Haimons children .

Most of these characters are of a religious nature, such as the biblical account of the battle between David and Goliath or the deeds of Samson. The stories of the great horse Bayard from medieval sagas and of Hercules from Greek mythology are the only profane elements of the otherwise religious processions.

These processional games were spread from one city to another through trade links. They were particularly popular in the Netherlands, Spain, Austria and England, for example. Some of these traditions have survived in different ways in different countries or regions.

Background of the Ducasse d'Ath

The city of Ath was founded after 1160. Baudouin IV , Count of Hainaut, bought part of the land of Gilles de Trazegnies. He built a square keep , the Tour Burbant to the north to protect his county, as well as a small church, St. Michael was consecrated. It belonged to the Abbey of Liessies (in what is now northern France). In the 14th century the city experienced a strong expansion. A second ring of walls was erected and in 1393 construction began on the Saint-Julien Church, dedicated to Saint Julien de Brioude , a Christian Roman soldier.

The origins of the procession date back to this time and are related to the expansion of the city. The procession took place on the fourth Sunday of August, just before the feast of the patron saint of Saint Julien de Brioude on August 28th. The first giants are attested at the end of the 15th century. The parade giants were carried in the procession, which was a mixture of pious and secular event. The figures of saints, like the mystery theaters, were used to instruct the population of the city and its surroundings, who were mostly ignorant of writing.

The story of the Ducasse d'Ath

Creation of the Ducasse d'Ath

Depiction of St. Christopher

In 1399 the first mention of a procession is found in the city's tax accounts. A procession with a group of figures from the old parish church of Saint Julien de Brioude has been recorded since 1430. The tax book from 1431–1432 includes a payment of four livres to the performers or carriers of several saints and martyrs .

In 1462, the number of biblical stories depicted multiplied. 41 pairs of horses were in action. Theatrical scenes were played on most of the wagons they pulled. The event of the year, however, was the first appearance of the giant horse Bayard with the four sons of Haimon. The horse was a copy of Oudenaarde's horse and, as in the following years, was carried by a group of ten to twelve men. Tradition reports that more than 39 livres tournois were incurred as costs for building and equipping the horse. In the same year the figure of St. Christopher is mentioned. The historical giant Goliath appears for the first time in 1481 .

The process of the move during this time can hardly be reconstructed. Before [18. Century] there are no contemporary sources on the subject. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments are documented ; for example the group of prophets , the story of Daniel , the birth and passion of Christ , the Annunciation , the presentation of the Lord in the temple and the story of the Madeleine . In addition, various military units appeared, each with contemporary armaments from archers to crossbowmen and gunners.

From the 16th century to the French Revolution

The blue ones with the giant Samson

Between 1450 and 1550 the procession increased again. In the second half of the 16th century there were financial crises, especially in the period from 1578 to 1599, which almost completely ruined the municipal finances. The reasons for the difficult economic situation were the numerous levies, taxes and requisitions, various wars and the plague .

The carriage of the triumphant church dates from the 17th century and goes back to the Counter Reformation. The giant Samson joined the Ducasse d'Ath procession in 1679 as the giant of the Brotherhood of Gunneries. There may have been a Samson figure before; however, this cannot be proven with sources.

Between 1701 and 1713 the Ducasse did not take place: From 1701 to 1706 the city was occupied by the French, after which it was a garrison town of a Dutch unit. In 1714 and 1715, the move was expanded with the construction of Mrs. Goliath's triumphal chariot and a second horse, Diricq. Since then, Goliath “marries” every year on the eve of Ducasse before fighting with David.

During the Austrian War of Succession from 1742, the city's magistrate was responsible for the carriages and figures. In 1749 the French left the city, which at that time suffered from the consequences of the war. Nevertheless, the city council decided to proceed exactly as it had done after the last war: the figure of Goliath was restored.

On February 11, 1786, an edict by Emperor Joseph II of Austria stipulated that all fairgrounds (Ducasses) throughout the country had to be celebrated on the same day, namely the second Sunday after Easter. No secular celebrations and parades on the previous evening were expressly permitted. On May 15, the government asked the magistrate to sell the Ducasse's items. However, this time they could still be saved. On August 12, 1790, the edict of 1786 was revoked by the emperor. Two new Diricq horses were added to the two restored giant figures. The move was kept in this form until 1793.

In the course of the French Revolution, the Jacobins took power in 1794 . For them, the characters were part of the old regime . On August 28, the 14 giant images were burned in the market.

In the 19th century

Samson

It took until 1804 until the procession was carried out again and it was not until 1806-1807 that new giant figures were created by the sculptor Emmanuel Florent: L'Aigle, Samson, Goliath and his wife, and in 1807 Tirant. The brotherhoods were canceled, but various craftsmen accompanied their symbol. Tirant was accompanied by the archers and Samson by the gunners. However, the eagle and Goliath and his wife were unaccompanied. As in the old procession, the ecclesiastical and secular associations as well as the floats and religious groups were part of the parade.

The next change to the procession was initiated by the Dutch government in 1819: the procession took place without giant figures and became a purely secular parade with an uncertain future. The bourgeoisie, shaped by the ideas of the French Revolution, had no sense of folk festivals. Only economic interests justified the municipal expenses for the Ducasse.

But even then, the organizers were looking for unusual or spectacular events so as not to let the procession die. In 1820 there were forty children in Egyptian costumes on Jacob's chariots. Scenes from the then very popular comic opera Lodoïska by Luigi Cherubini were shown, as well as a pasha and his general staff. The “carriage of the beautiful” was surrounded by a group of barbarians . In 1823 there was a car with 60 little Mamelukes aged 6 years with mustaches.

The eagle from Ath 1851, at that time still with only one head

Belonging to the newly founded Belgian state since 1830, the economic and social situation worsened for the city of Ath from 1840, mainly due to the crisis in flax cultivation and flax processing . In 1846 half of the 8,500 inhabitants were considered "poor". The potato - mildew , the crisis of 1848 and the cholera of 1849 were further problems. The city's resources declined while spending increased. This crisis also affected the quality of the move. Nevertheless, the move remained popular with the population.

From 1850, more and more popular attractions came into the parade: Indians, Scots, the Emperor of China with mandarins and mamelukes brought an exotic note to the parade. Artists and bands from the region also took part. Local patriotism was served by building a cart with city celebrities. Some religious groups also took part in the parade again: Saint John the Baptist , the Flight into Egypt and the Chariot of the Triumphant Church. However, the Diricq horses have disappeared. The giant figures were renovated and were again a natural part of the move. The giant Tirant had changed his name: he became Ambiorix . This change can be traced back to the reception of Belgian independence in 1830 in art. Ambiorix , a Gallic fighter in Caesar's time, symbolizes the pride of the Belgian bourgeoisie in the new nation and its historical roots.

Goliath and wife on November 18, 1895

The "Aigle monocéphale" (eagle of John the Evangelist) is double-headed and thus adapted to the city's coat of arms. In 1854 the parade gets an extraordinary scroll during the royal visit. The parade will take place in front of the royal family on Wednesday September 13th. On this occasion, the eagle appears double-headed for the first time. These sculptures were made in the workshop of the carpenter Emmanuel Cambier.

In 1860 "Mlle Victoire" was put back on the train. Originally the symbol of the Austrian victory over France in 1793, it was burned a year later. In 1860 it was re-included in the procession under the name "The City of Ath". The head is the work of Ernest Ouverleaux, after a drawing by Henri Maikäfer, director of the Academy of Design in Ath.

In the 20th century

Between 1884 and 1934 the two main characters, Mr. and Mrs. Goliath, were used for political purposes. They are sometimes dressed in the colors of the dominant political parties, the liberals or the socialists, and thus the victory of the respective party in the last local election is celebrated.

The already double-headed eagle with child in 1900

During the First World War , the Germans occupied the city on Friday, August 21, 1914. It was Ducasse's eve. All festivities have been canceled. After the end of the war in 1919, the Ducasse parade was redesigned to celebrate the victory in 1919 and took place twice. The programs announced more than 1,500 participants: historical groups (corps and professions, the revolution of 1830, the tormented cities and the soldiers of the battles of Flanders ) marching around the giant figures. A cart pulled by oxen carried the old men and children. With the exception of Goliath and his wife, the giant figures were integrated into these scenes and provided with military equipment.

General mobilization was ordered on August 26, 1939 during World War II. This was Ducasse's Saturday. In 1941 the prisoners of war held in officer camps in Germany used cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, tin cans, etc. to build figures of Goliath and his wife as well as little David or the devil Magnon with three drums in their free time. The city of Ath was liberated on September 4, 1944. On the 8th, the "wedding of Goliath" was celebrated in Saint Julien in front of a considerable crowd.

There has been no further interruption since 1945. In 1948 the horse Bayard was added again. As in the Middle Ages, bonds were issued to finance it. The design of the horse was done by René Sansen.

Group of 19 parishes

A serious crisis occurred in the 1960s. At that time the train was no longer popular and it was hardly possible to find enough participants. In 1966, the navigation car remained in the hall because there were no draft horses . Consideration was given to replacing horses with agricultural tractors.

Therefore, in 1968, on the initiative of the History and Archeology Circle of Ath, a committee was set up to revitalize the parade. He is now solely responsible for the organization of the festivities, for the presentations and all equipment.

The enthusiasm for Ducasse has grown so much that there are too many people interested in participating. In order to remedy this, René Sansen created the "Group of gunners of the Sarah mountain". It commemorates the participation of the people of Ath in the Belgian Revolution of 1830 (with the aim of separating from the Netherlands).

"Saint Christophe" has been part of the parade again since 1976 and the Diricq horses since 1981. In 1997, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the amalgamation of the municipalities in Belgium, the "Group of 19 municipalities" appears for the first time.

The Ducasse d'Ath today

Process of celebrations

Brûlage des marronnes de Gouyasse (burning of the underpants)

The Ducasse takes place every year on the fourth weekend in August and lasts from Friday to Monday a week later, i.e. 10 days. The main events take place on the first weekend.

On Friday afternoon the giant Tirant ancienne leaves his depot to "attend" the archery competition. Traditionally, the Ather families prepare the dish tarte à masteilles , which is eaten the next day. In the evening after a concert, Goliath's trousers - marrones in the dialect of Picardy - are burned. This is made in advance by the wearer of the Goliath. The custom goes back to a wedding custom and indicates the upcoming wedding of Goliath. This program item has existed since 1987.

On Saturday lunchtime, the Ducasse starts at 12 noon with the ringing of the great Marie-Pontoise bell . A carillon concert follows immediately afterwards. In the afternoon, the procession with the giant figures goes to the church of St. Julien. A Gouyasse / Vespers takes place in the church. The procession giants remain in front of the church portal. Then the parade goes back to the town hall, followed by the “Wedding of Goliath”. The two giant figures dance together and kiss. The band plays the Gouyasse song. The spectators clap and the guard shoots volleys of honor. Afterwards the fight "David against Goliath" takes place in front of the town hall. Goliath is waiting in front of the town hall and David, represented by a little boy, steps in front of him. Goliath mocks the boy and a dispute develops that corresponds to the French translation of the Bible text. According to the Bible, David killed the giant with the stone from his slingshot, but in Ath he has to throw a small ball into the recess through which the wearer of the Goliaths can look out. If he scores, the audience cheers, if not, he may try again next year. In the evening there are concerts and a torchlight procession by the Canon du Mont-Sarah group .

On Sunday morning the pageant moves from the train station to the market square, in the afternoon back to the train station.

On Monday the giant figures go for a walk in the city center. In the afternoon they dance for the patients and staff of the hospital and the nursing home. There are carriage rides with a city tour through the historic center of the city. A hot air balloon festival takes place on the town square.

The following Thursday: Big night market until midnight.

On the following Monday afternoon, a concert of the carillon, a concert of the fanfare L'Union de Lorette, which plays the last Grand Gouyasse, and an evening fireworks display the Ducasse.

The figures of giants and horses

The eagle with two heads
The group of Goliath
Head of the Samson figure
Ambiorix
Bayard the horse

The double-headed eagle of Ath is 3.30 m tall and weighs 116 kg. The eagle with two heads is a symbol of heraldry and is common throughout Europe and especially in the Slavic countries and as the coat of arms of Austria. At the beginning of the 18th century it was portrayed as the eagle of John, the symbol of the brotherhood of tailors. It was single-headed, like most eagles in Catalonia, where many moving giants exist. After the giant figures were burned in 1794, the eagle reappeared for the first time in 1806 at the Ducasse d'Ath. His head was carved by Emmanuel Florent. In September 1854, on the occasion of a visit by the Prince of Brabant, future King Leopold II, Clément Gilisquet gave him a second head to look like the eagle on the coat of arms of the city of Ath. Currently the eagle with the two heads is leading the Ducasse move. Under the old regime this honor went to the swan the baker . A small child is sitting on the eagle. The giant figure of the eagle has been accompanied by the brass band from the Meslin-l'Eveque district since 1983.

Mr. and Mrs. Goliath are the central figures of the Ducasse. Mr. Goliath is 4 m tall and weighs 135 kg. Ms. Goliath measures 3.75 m and weighs 112 kg. Goliath has been recorded since 1481, his wife since 1715. They dance to a baroque air in two different places, the Pont du Moulin (mill bridge) and the Pont du Gâdre. You will be accompanied by the Saint-Martin d'Ath chapel. The guard of Goliath, the Philistine, consists of the shepherd David, the devil "Magnon", the "hommes de feuille" and "chevaux-jupons", and the Diricq horses.

The figure of Samson is 4.30 m high, weighs 127 kg and was introduced into the retinue of the Ducasse d'Ath in 1679 as a giant of the brotherhood of gunners. A giant Samson may have participated in the procession earlier, perhaps since the 15th century, but there is no written evidence of this. Like his companions - the Blue Group - he has been dressed as a French soldier since the 19th century. According to the biblical description, Samson carries the column of the temple of Dagān and the donkey cheekbones. It has been followed by the Moulbaix marching band (fanfare) since the interwar period. While the head and upper body of the other giants are carved from linden wood, only the face of the Samson figure is made of wood. The figure consists of a slatted frame and is covered with painted canvas. In her hands she is holding an imitation marble column and a brown donkey cheekbone. Samson figures as procession giants are also known in Lungau, Austria .

Mlle Victoire (translated: Miss Sieg) is 4.07 m high and weighs 135 kg, it was first created in 1793 on the initiative of the mayor to celebrate a victory of the Austrians over the French. The original figure did not take part in any Ducasse and was destroyed with the other giant figures in 1794. In 1860 it was first restored under the name "La Ville d'Ath" and was later renamed "Mlle Victoire". The head is a work by Ernest Ouverleaux based on a drawing by Henri Hanneton, director of the Ath Academy of Fine Arts. At that time, the Catholic press was particularly upset about Mlle Victoire's visibly worn brassiere. Mlle Victoire symbolizes the city of Ath, whose colors it bears: purple, white and yellow. Founded in 1851, Lorette's brass band plays the music for their famous and spectacular waltz dances.

The giant Ambiorix : The Ducasse d 'Ath figures have been used since the XVIII. Century mentioned a giant of the archers under the name Tirant. In 1850 it is transformed into Ambiorix to better fit local and national history. He keeps his bow and arrows. The Irchonwelz brass band plays the music for his dance. The current figure has a height of 3.75 meters, a basket diameter of 2 meters and a weight of 128 kg.

The historian and sculptor René Sansen has reconstructed the figures of Tirant. The modern character Tirant l'Ancien, modeled after the earlier Tirant, appears on Friday in front of the Ducasse as part of the archery competition.

Saint Christophe de Flobecq is a giant on stilts . According to the Golden Legend , he carries people across the river. As the figure of Ducasse, he carries the baby Jesus on his shoulders. He takes part in the Flobecq procession on the last Sunday of July and in the Ducasse d´Ath parade. He is the last processional giant on stilts in Europe. There used to be figures like this in Spain and Portugal as well. Saint Christophe on stilts is mentioned in a source dated to 1746. For 1462 and 1487 a Saint Christophe is confirmed in the procession of Ath. He was reassigned to today's Ducasse d´Ath in 1976. The current figure is a copy of the figure by Flobecq.

The horse Bayard is a giant horse that comes from the cycle of Charlemagne . Introduced in the procession in 1462, it disappeared during the first quarter of the 16th century. The warhorse with the four sons of Haimon / Aymons on its back was included in the procession in 1948 on the initiative of a gymnastics club and created by the sculptor and archaeologist René Sansen. Since 1958, sixteen porters have made the richly decorated horse dance to the music of the Huissignies brass band. The Bayard horse weighs more than 700 kg - including the children and the sound system for the neighing. Its height is 6.30 m, the length 15.20 meters, the calculation of the volume results in 72 cubic meters.

The wagons of the move

La barque of the Neapolitan fishermen
Navigation car
The horticultural cart in 2008

The boat of the Neapolitan fishermen is a wagon designed with a lot of imagination. It was created by the company "Les Matelots de la Dendre" (The sailors of the Dendre). The origins of the car go back to 1853.

On the horticultural wagon, the goddess Flora is enthroned under a canopy in the style of 1900 over a bed of flowers and nymphs. This decorative car was added to the train in 1850 under the name “Carriage of the Young Girls”. Dedicated to Venus in 1851 , it became the Flora wagon in 1860 and then the horticultural wagon in 1876.

The provincial estates wagon was originally a wagon from a parade organized in Brussels to mark the 50th anniversary of the railway. There he was the car of music and the dealer (Hanseatic League). It was bought by the city of Ath in 1885. In the same year it was converted into the "Car of the Provinces". This commemorates the meeting of the county of Hainaut in Ath in 1572; a time when Mons was occupied by the Protestant opponents of Spain due to the war.

The “car of navigation” also comes from the event in Brussels. It was on the train part of the means of transport and is reminiscent of a barge that ran between Bruges and Ghent in the 16th century.

On the “agricultural wagon” the goddess Ceres is surrounded by farmers. Her throne consists of sheaves, grain and agricultural implements in a décor style from 1900. The wagon has had its current form since 1905. It replaced the reapers' wagon, which existed in 1860 but disappeared towards the end of the 19th century. The wagon is accompanied by a group of farmers.

Albert and Isabelle's car has been with Ducasse since 1906. The year before, it was part of the move to mark the 75th anniversary of independence in Brussels. It commemorates the reign of the Archdukes Albert and Isabelle . They were responsible for building the town hall from 1614.

Other actors

The first giant bearers were probably Estaques mill workers who were used to heavy sacks on their shoulders. It is said from 1752 that Goliath had only one carrier. Carrying the giants used to be a privilege for members of long-established families. This has partly been preserved to this day. In the second half of the 20th century, the giants' entourage developed. From three porters per giant before 1934 through six in the late 1960s, there are currently (2008) groups of about 10 men. The horse Bayard (600 kg) is carried and animated by two teams of 16 porters each. In the beginning it was about the members of a gymnastics club. Little by little, various external people have integrated themselves into the various groups. In front of the porters, children collect the coins thrown by the spectators.

Halberd Bearer, 2005
Fanfare de Huissignies
Hommes d'armes

The shepherd David is related to the family of the bearers of the giant Goliath. On the Saturday after Vespers, he begins the fight against Goliath in the main square by speaking the “Bonimée”. The porter in the giant's basket answers him. At the end of the dialogue, David defies the giant of the Philistines by throwing a ball that has to hit a hatch in the giant.

About 350 participants take part in the pageant in fifteen other groups. The most famous figure is that of the "savage" on the barge of the boatmen of Naples. This figure has been part of the train since 1873 and looks as if it had just been embarked on the legendary island of Gavatao. With his antics and screams, the savage is one of the spectacular elements of the train. It is said that in the 19th century he killed and ate the "wild" rabbit in front of the public.

Several historical personalities related to the city of Ath can be found in a “temple of fame” in the pageant:

  • Jean Taisnier (1508-v.1562), musician, mathematician, astrologer
  • Michel De Bay (1513–1589), professor of theology at the Catholic University of Louvain, theologian at the Council of Trent
  • Juste Lipse (1547–1603), famous humanist and graduate of the Collège d'Ath
  • Jean Zuallart (1541–1634), Mayor of Ath from 1584 to 1634, author of the description of the city, pilgrim in Jerusalem
  • Le marquis de Trazegnies (v. 1470–1550), Castellan d'Ath from 1540 to 1550.
  • Jacques de Fariaux (1627–1695), Military Governor Ath from 1690 to 1695.
  • Simon de Bauffe (1676–1738), Austrian military architect
  • Louis Hennepin (born in Ath 1626) explored the Mississippi River and wrote travel stories
  • Eugène Defacqz (1797–1871), member of the National Assembly and first President of the Court of Cassation .

Some actors shine with picturesque jewelry and clothing and retain their roles for over ten years.

In 1969 the entourage had far too few actors. But from this low point the enthusiasm for the festival increased continuously. As early as 1974 there were too many actors. René Sansen, sculptor and local archaeologist, suggested setting up a new group around Canon Mont Sarah to portray the revolution of 1830. This group is now well integrated into the Sunday pageant and also moves through the city with torches on Saturday evening. The association “Renovation of the pageant” was created in this context.

Each giant dances to an individual music that is played by "his" brass band (fanfare). Some dances are traditional. Goliath and his wife dance the Gouyasse dance on the old bridges of the city. Since the end of the 20th century, each giant has been assigned a special song.

The draft horses are essential for the pageant. Some farmers keep them almost exclusively for this purpose. Two, four or six horses are harnessed to a carriage. The horses are constantly accompanied by their supervisors. In the absence of horses, a tractor pulled the agricultural wagon in 1966 and the navigation wagon remained in the depot.

In the early 1970s, a live dog was sitting on one of the horses in the Ath town cart. In the meantime he was gone. He came back at the beginning of the 21st century.

Videos of the appearance of the giants

literature

The article is largely a summary of the French-language article, including its sub-articles on giant figures and floats.

German speaking

  • Walter Aumayr: At Samson's relatives in Belgium . In: Roland Flomair, Lucia Luidold (Hrsg.): Riesen, special issue in the form of a book of the Salzburger Volkskultur magazine . Anton Pustet, Salzburg c 1996, ISBN 3-7025-0346-3 , p. 76 ff .
  • Klaus Beitl: The social giants . Notring publishing house of the Austrian scientific associations, Vienna 1961.

French speaking

cited literature:

  • JP Ducastelle: Bayard, cheval merveilleux. In: Bulletin du cercle royal d'Histoire et d'archéologie d'Ath. Ath 2008.
  • E. Fourdin: La procession et la Foire communales d'Ath - Notice historique. In: Annales du Cercle Archéologique de Mons. Mons, t, IX, 1869.
  • René Meurant: La Ducace d'Ath. Ath 1981, OCLC 163993684

further literature in the literature list of the French-language article

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ An overview in K. Beitl, 1961.
  2. ^ R. Meurant, p. 165.
  3. ↑ After the historian Emmanuel Fourdin. See: E. Fourdin, p. 11.
  4. ↑ R. Meurant, p. 25.
  5. ↑ E. Fourdin, pp. 49-50.
  6. ↑ R. Meurant, p. 193.
  7. ↑ R. Meurant, p. 26 ff.
  8. ↑ R. Meurant, pp. 30-32.
  9. ↑ E. FOURDIN, op.cité , p. 7
  10. ↑ R. Meurant, pp. 32-34.
  11. ^ JP Ducastel, p. 453.
  12. ^ JP Ducastel, op . cité , p. 455.
  13. ↑ R. Meurant, pp. 108-110 and 328-342
  14. ↑ R. Meurant, op . cité , p. 123 (photo)
  15. ^ Committee for renovation of the move
  16. ↑ Aumayr, 1996, p. 77f.
  17. ↑ Statistics on successful and unsuccessful attempts can be found here: Archive link ( Memento of the original dated February 23, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. under "combat @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ducassedath.be
  18. ↑ cf. the second video
  19. ^ Site Officiel de Rénovation du Cortège
  20. ↑ R. Meurant, pp. 375-376.
  21. ^ R. Meurant, p. 380.

Web links

Commons : Ducasse of Ath (Belgium)  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files