Limoux Carnival

The Limoux Carnival takes place in the town of Limoux in the Aude department of France. It lasts three months, and can take place from December until April, the carnival period having to be between Christmas and Holy Week.

Every weekend, three bands dance to the rhythm of traditional Limoux music, under the medieval arcades around the Place de la République. The Limoux carnival is considered to be the longest in the world. The carnival lasts an average of 4 months.

History

According to a tradition that dates back to the fourteenth century, millers celebrated the delivery of their royalties to the monastery of Prouille on Mardi Gras day. Accompanied by fiddlers, they roamed the city throwing dragees and flour.

Since 1604, the carnival has been celebrated in Limoux. Masked people roamed the city cracking their whips throwing flour and sugared almonds. They danced farandoles and played oboes and drums. Legend has it that the way of dancing the Carnival of Limoux comes from the gestures of the winegrower who, squeezing his harvest on foot to extract the juice, raises his arms and lifts his feet one after the other.

 © Jeanbarje — Photographie personnelle, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20729485