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Saved by a knight in shining armour - 15th June 2022 View All
This annual festival in Belgium sees St George restore order to the city of Mons by slaying its dreaded dragon. The ancient cultural spectacle qualifies as "a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity", as described by its place on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The weekend of festivities takes the name Ducasse de Mons, but is dubbed the 'Doudou' by city residents, with the climax being the much anticipated bout between the saint and the dragon.
Despite the apparent chaos, every movement is expertly choreographed in a 30 minute pantomime. 11 'white men' and 8 'leaf men' wheel the dragon over the crowd while 12 'Chin-chins' battle mendacious devils wielding cow's bladder balloons.
Played by proud city inhabitants from all walks of life, the roles are treated with the utmost seriousness. Rehearsals throughout the year preserve traditions dating back 700 years in minute detail, and the opportunity to take part is an honour many spend years waiting to receive.
Even those spectating get in on the action, assuming characters in the narrative who rush in to pin down the dragon by its mane and tail.
Predictably, St George triumphs over the dragon, first with a lance and sabre, before dispatching it with a gunshot.
The ritual brings a sense of reconciliation over the city and, as the dragon's slain, the people chant "and the people of Mons will not perish."
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