Celebrations for the 15 August are in full swing in the city of Liège. A large crowd is expected this Thursday in the Outremeuse district, with the parade starting at 14:30 featuring traditional giants.
The main event started on Wednesday at 13:30 with the flowering of all the Maries, followed by the unveiling of the Royal Bouquet of Outremeuse – a massive tree over six metres in height and weighing more than 60 kilos.
The tree toured through the district’s streets for its traditional aubades. The event continued with a grand bell-ringing performance by the Hervian carillonneurs. The remainder of August 14th boasted various activities and concerts in the district.
The highlight of the celebrations will take place today. Following the procession of the Black Virgin and a grand mass in Walloon at St. Nicholas Church, eleven giants, including Tchantchès, Nanèsse, Saint-Lambert and Charlemagne, are expected to parade through the streets of Outremeuse from Louis Jamme Street during the traditional annual procession. Pékèt drinks will plentifully flow throughout the day and night.
The festivities will conclude on the evening of August 16th with the burial of Mati l’Ohé, aka Mathieu the Bone. The body will be lifted at 17:00, followed by a symbolic funeral procession marking the end of the celebrations in Outremeuse.
This year’s August 15th celebrations in Liège are marked by an interesting change. The Tchantchès Museum has renamed itself the Tchantchès and Nanèsse Museum – House of Folklore, a move pushed for by the Province and the building’s owner, to highlight the character of Nanèsse and through her, the role of women in society and folklore.
