As the famous Mardi Gras tradition approaches, the port city of Dunkirk and the surrounding communes are plunged into a festive atmosphere worthy of the greatest carnivals! Bawdy songs, herring throws, dances and colourful costumes offer a clever mix of cheerfulness during the winter period.
In the early 17th century, sailors would gather for a final banquet before setting off on a long 6-month expedition to Iceland to fish for herring. Shipowners offered their sailors the "foye", a meal and feast traditionally held in estaminets in their honor.
As many sailors didn't return from this perilous fishery, they also received half their pay, which they spent during the 3 joyeuses, the Lenten period between Ash Wednesday and Shrove Tuesday.
The festival then known as "Visscherbende" (fishermen's band in Flemish) gradually became associated with Catholic festivities, and was transformed into a carnival with, in particular, the tradition of dressing up in the dresses of sailors' wives and adorning their hats with flowers.
The tradition gradually spread to the whole city, then gradually faded, before starting up again in 1946.
Since then, it's been one of the most popular carnivals in France, with an average of 70,000 participants over the 3 months. Masquelours" gather for the famous herring toss from the balconies of the town hall, Saturday night balls and parades.
These are all events that bring families together, and where it's easy to forge links with strangers, who often become acolytes for the next edition.
The 2024 edition kicks off on January 06 and will be punctuated by the following highlights in February:
So many opportunities to put on your best "cle "tche" (carnival costume) and party to your heart's content, with free buses to take carnival-goers home after they've had a bite to eat in one of the French fry shops at the foot of the Kursaal, in the Digue des Alliés parking lot.
For more information on this event not to be missed and to find out more about each year's program and routes, go there.
Claire from Comme des Français
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In the same festive spirit, discover these other events:
