- Folklore and Tradition
This traditional procession takes place in and around the village of Ham-sur-Heure. The march, listed as Intangible Heritage by UNESCO, happens the Sunday following August 15.
The march, bringing together several guilds, will leave the castle around noon and will only return 4 hours later. The statues and relics of the saint will be carried through the city, stopping here and there/
The following Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, guilds and drummers will continue walking though the vilage endlessly. Each day finishes with a torchlit procession at 9 pm, going from the castle to the Grand Place, where each torch will feed a bonfire. The participants will then dance around it until 10 pm.
Origin of the Napoleonian marches
First religious, later influenced by the Napoleonian era, the marches evolved hrough the 20th century to what they are today. 20,000 persons join each year, putting on a costume to keep tradition alive. Each event has its own rules.
From Saturday 17 to Wednesday 21 August 2024