Ducasse de Mons (or simply Doudou) is a mixture of a Catholic ritual, a street carnival, and a performance. The festival lasts for eight days—it begins on the Saturday before Trinity Sunday and ends the next Sunday. The celebration takes place in Mons, Belgium, and consists of two significant components: the procession, which encompasses the descent and the ascent of Saint Waltrude's Shrine, and the traditional combat known as Lumeçon, featuring Saint George and a dragon.
Schedule of Activities
Even though the main festivities do not start until Saturday, entertainment in town will start on Wednesday, May 22. Three concerts are scheduled for 8 pm on Friday, May 24. Following the weekend's main festivities, the Doudou Sound Party kicks off at 8 pm on Monday, May 27, at the Grand Place.
The celebration continues on Tuesday, May 28, with brass band concerts and fireworks at 8 p.m. At noon on June 2, 2024, the Lumeçon, a small fight for children, is held on the Grand-Place. The event wraps up at 5:30 p.m. with the return of the hunt to the Sainte-Waudru collegiate church, marking the official end of the Ducasse de Mons.
The descent of Saint Waltrude's Shrine (May 25, 2024)
Commencing the Doudou festivities, the descent of the Saint Waltrude's Shrine, the patron saint of Mons, occurs on the eve of Trinity Sunday, precisely at 8 pm, as the clock chimes. In the bustling Collegiate Church, the shrine is removed from its altar. The priest then entrusts the shrine to the town authorities for the festival's duration.
The ascent of the Car d'Or (May 26, 2024)
Regarded across Belgium as one of the most stunning religious processions in the nation, the Car d'Or procession commences at 9:30 on the Sunday of the Ducasse and ends at 12 pm. Following the procession's conclusion, at 12:25 pm, the Car d'Or must ascend a steep, cobblestone thoroughfare known as the Rampe Sainte-Waudru. To aid the horses in bearing the immense load, hundreds of locals wearing medieval costumes gather behind to lend a push. According to local superstition, failure to reach the hill's summit in a single attempt foretells significant misfortune for the city.
The battle, or "Lumeçon" (May 26, 2024)
The second part of the celebration is dedicated to Saint George fighting the dragon. Combat known as “Lumeçon” takes place at the Grand-Place at 12:40 pm, right after the Car d'Or climb. A huge dragon attacks not only Saint George but also the public. Participants aim to grab a mane or tail for luck. The combat is choreographed: Saint George and the dragon move in opposing directions. Despite Saint George's lance breaking, he defeats the dragon with a pistol on the third try. At 1 pm, when the fight is over, spectators try to get a mane from the dragon’s tail, as it is said to bring good luck.
The history of the festival
The tradition dates back to 1349. That year, the town suffered from the plague, and the local authorities organized a procession that walked through Mons with the shrine of Waltrude. The epidemic ended soon after, and a new tradition emerged: every year, on Trinity Sunday, the town venerates the saint and holds a fair. Also, in 2005, the celebration of Ducasse de Mons was added to the list of UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
