There was a special atmosphere this Saturday in the streets of Mons.
Doudou or not Doudou, “the good god is always montois” on the Ducasse dates. After showers Friday and Saturday morning, generous thunderstorms invaded downtown Mons this Saturday afternoon. They will return again this Sunday, for what should have been the day of the fight said Lumeçon. Unfortunately, folklore will hardly benefit from it. But the Montois and Chambourlettes still seized the opportunity to breathe the air of a suspended Doudou City.
Inevitably, some came around the Grand’Place, others walked the small historic streets to discover dozens of pennants hanging from the windows while the most passionate made a jump to the Collegiate Church of Sainte-Waudru . Decorated with its flags as if the Doudou took place, the building should have been the scene of the mythical descent of the Shrine this Saturday evening. Instead, the relic saw the eyes of the Montois pass by, still flabbergasted that their folklore was canceled. Installed in the aisle, the Car d’Or will also remain at rest this year.
No open terrace on the Grand’Place, no singing to the glory of the city, no drunken reveler and no street entertainment. But there was still a strange feeling. A feeling that many people wanted to taste, despite everything. “We knew there would be nothing in town except the open shops, but I still wanted to come with my children”, says Christine, from Flénu. “It’s quite moving that there is no Doudou, I wanted to see the city and to feel this emotion.”
The crowded black shopping street
Like Christine, many Montois and locals stormed the cobblestones of the city center to “see with their own eyes”. They obviously took the opportunity to find their favorite pedestrian shops or discover the new Primark store and its long queue outside. In the middle of the afternoon, the Grand’Rue was crowded with people, as we had not seen it for a long time. “After this long period of closure, it’s great to see so many people”, smiled a saleswoman of a clothing store. Be careful, however, not to abuse “freedom” by remaining very careful with the virus …
Traditional folklore has given way to that of masks and social distancing, always under the reinforced surveillance of the police who took care to prevent the slightest incident or the slightest attempt at “feasting”. But the city center still found a part of its soul on this Doudou Saturday canceled. And for purists, it was still possible, via different tricks, to vibrate to the sound of the Doudou air from “s’baraque”. One thing is certain, the Montois will not perish, even without their adored Ducasse!
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