This document dated 1895 is one of the first photographs of the Monday Procession. On that picture, one can see the Gilles society "Les Boute-en-Train" meeting the Drapeau Blanc (White Flag) cross-roads. The procession of La Louvière Carnival existed for 13 years only but its success was indisputable (Photograph Werder, Nels Publishing).
For more than a century, La Louvière Carnival Procession takes place on the half Lent Monday afternoon, and as such is the most ancient Laetare Procession in Belgium. The morning is nevertheless not less animated : the Gilles carry out an outing reinforced by the presence of the youth societies of the town. This moment is highly appreciated by La Louvière inhabitants who gather together far from the big crowd, but watch out for the "confetti battles" which animate most of the pubs !
Laetare Monday. Around 4:00 p.m. the 1000 folklore societies members which will participate to the Monday Procession rush forward. The giants D'Jobri and D'Jobrette open the 900 meters long march to cover in order to join the Jules Mansart Square (CRS Collection)
Then, the Gille gets back to his family so as to recover some strength before starting the procession which initiates at 4 o'clock in the afternoon at a place known as "Placard du Hocquet" (Hiccup Cupboard). All the folklore societies gather then and a procession of more than 1000 participants starts in the heart of the "Cité des Loups" (Wolves City) and cross all the very symbolic places : rue de Brouckère, Place Maugrétout. The procession then enters the Albert 1er street, the living and commercial centre. The fervour reaches its top when finally the Gilles march towards the Place Mansart. The final is a sumptuous moment where the spectator is charmed by both the music and the sight of those shimmering costumes and hats. It is 7 o'clock in the evening when finally the refrain dear to the whole city arises : "Mitant des Camps, Louis, Mitant des Camps ne périra pas (will not die) !" More than a refrain, that joyful rime contains a slice of La Louvière spirit. It is the firm and quite volition of a city which find there its expression, this everlasting wish to build and go forward even in the hard moments. Obviously, Mitant des Camps will never perish.
The evening carries on as the drums sound and the night carnival is the ruler up to the next day.
The final Monday Procession rondeau in 1969. In a few moments, the Mitant des Camps tune will be played by the musicians, ending the rondeau and marking the start of the second night of La Louvière Carnival (Photograph Baugniet).
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