Introduction

	Welcome on www.laetare.be ! This website's aim is to allow you to discover the Folklore of the Carnival of La Louvière: le Laetare. La Louvière is a city of the province of Hainaut, a southern province of Belgium.
On this site, you will find the whole description of its Carnival and the origin of Laetare within the city. The characters which take part in the different events will be introduced to you : you will get familiar with the Gilles, the Peasants and other fancy costumes. The origin and the evolution of each costume is related. Typical traditions of the Laetare will also be recalled. The "Brûlage des Bosses" (Humps Burning), the Monday procession, the "Mitant des Camps" tune, all these events are so many precious moments that the Gilles of La Louvière love to share with their public. One part of the site is dedicated to the introduction of the Carnival groups such as the Gilles society, the Peasants society and various other fancy groups. Those different societies are the Laetare soul: they bring it back to life every year, invariably when spring comes back. Some of them have a rich history more than a century old. The section related to the key figures unveils men who through their passion and their love for the Carnival put a lot of effort into serving the folklore of their city. May them be here thanked. Photographs galleries (in French) specifically devoted to the Carnival will take you through images within an authentic and safeguarded feast.	As the folklore of a city is the result of a slow evolution within a defined context, the link "La Louvière au temps passé" (La Louvière in the old days) intends to show you what the city of La Louvière used to be as well as its streets and neighbourhoods during the last two centuries by using old plates and photographs. Besides, should you wish to express your opinion, to receive information as well as starting a forum with other visitors, the "Livre d'Or" (Golden book) is at your entire disposal. This site is alive and your remarks are precious for the site owners. So, therefore, do not hesitate to send them to us. The Bibliography (in French) and the Agenda (in French) will provide you with additional information in order to allow you to deepen your discovery or to be part of the societies and Carnival events of the next Laetare. Finally, the team and the webmaster of www.laetare.be stay at your disposal and friendly thank you for your confidence. Thank you for visiting us. Please call again ! The www.laetare.be team.