The Carnival of Nivelles is one of the largest in the Walloon Brabant region. Each year bringing hundreds visitors to the small town of Nivelles streets and its Grand Place. A colourful 4-day carnival to celebrate the arrival of spring, which sees the town burst into life, joy, dancing, colour, with the residents who are always ready to throw a party.
We went to the carnival last year, but didn’t really know what was going on, and didn’t really know what to expect. So this year, was a chance to see it again, but kinda understand what was happening. Of course we were trying to catch as many oranges as possible.
Saturday is the Children’s Carnvial, with all the kids dressed up from spiderman to unicorns. Sunday is the main Carnival procession, with the folklore groups and the companies of Gilles, parading the streets throwing confetti and oranges as a way of bringing in spring and getting rid of winter.
The orange throwing part of the carnival was interesting.. I expected it to be people handing out the oranges, but it fact it really is a throwing. At the parade moves through the streets, and a group of Gilles past by, you really have to watch your head for incoming oranges. If a window of a building was opening, it became target practice. ‘How many oranges can we get in this one?’
My boyfriend James and I did our best. I hoped to get one or two, but I believe we came home with around 25 oranges.
All in all, the carnival was a fun-packed weekend, with lots of things happening. All the traditions of the orange throwing and the burning of the costumes was a bit bizarre for someone that’s never seen it before. It just seemed like a good reason for the locals to have a drink and a good time. Afterwards, the streets of the town were covered with confetti and oranges.
Finally it was time to go home through the streets of squished oranges and count are loot! 🍊🍊🍊
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