Nivelles Carnival

The Nivelles Carnival (French: Carnaval de Nivelles) is one of the most important carnivals in Belgium. It is the oldest carnival in the province of Walloon Brabant. It welcomes a lot of floats, traditional groups, majorettes, fanfares and giants.[1] The carnival is mainly famous for its societies of Gilles and its imaginative societies which attract crowds as in the nearby Centre region, Hainaut (binchois type of carnival). It lasts four days and takes place on the weekend of Quadragesima Sunday.[2] It starts the first Saturday of Lent and ends the following Tuesday.

Carnival of Nivelles
Carnaval de Nivelles
Nivelles Carnival giants
StatusActive
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Nivelles
CountryBelgium

History

The Nivelles Carnival started before the 1900s. It initially took place around Laetare Sunday and later moved to the first weekend of Lent. It is not known exactly when Gilles made their first appearance (around 1910).

  • Flyer about the carnival (1888)
    Flyer about the carnival (1888)
  • Flyer about the carnival (1913)
    Flyer about the carnival (1913)

References
  1. René Meurant, Les géants et le Carnaval en Wallonie (1960), p. 187.
  2. Bernard Dubrulle, Petit Futé Wallonie: L'Ardenne et bien plus (2007), p. 64.
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