One of the most spectacular rural folk customs in Wallonia is the Grand Feu.
In the countryside, the bonfire was lit either on St John’s Day, 24 June, the summer solstice, or on the 1st Sunday of Lent, known as Brandon Sunday. This custom dates back thousands of years.
The Great Fire had a symbolic meaning. In the Namur region, people were loyal to the Great Fire of Brandon Sunday. It heralded the end of winter and the arrival of spring. It marked the end of the evenings. ‘Au Grand Feu, les sizes au feu’ is an old local proverb. The sizes, or wakes, were held during the months considered to be black, i.e. from November to February.
The Grand Feu de Bouge is lit every year on Brandon Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent.
Rue de l'Institut, Bouge Namur, Belgique
