Are you upset that you missed Mardi Gras and Pre-Lent Carnivals?

Well don't be because in Wallonia there is still time for the Stavelot Carnival, 9th - 11th March. This takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday. Laetare means to rejoice. Legend has it that lots of rejoicing on this day had been done by the monks who were then banned from attending. The good people of Stavelot mocked this with their "Blancs Moussis" costume of white hoods and masks with long noses.

I went to this wonderful festival in 2017. I enjoyed the processions and I really appreciated the town. We had a (Stave) lot of wine at the wonderful "O Mal Aime" restaurant, which is open specially for the carnival. I stayed at the Domaine Long Pre, which was a bit of a walk into town and we needed a car to get home but it was very nice and quiet and had lots of onsite amenities: https://www.domainelongpre.be/en/.

Mary Leen Hagger