Languedoc Carnivals – Limoux Fecos
Ok, if you want to see something quite bizarre then get yourself down to the ancient Occitan festival of Limoux, Fecos de Limoux, which takes place over several weekends in this town in the Languedoc region of France. From around the middle to end of January, right through until the second Sunday before Easter, the towns folk come out three times during a weekend day to perform, or celebrate if you will, an ancient ritual in the town’s main square.
Having asked many locals, I am still not clear of the exact purpose of these parades, but nevertheless each weekend is given over to one particular local guild who, dressed in outlandish costumes, troop round the square and it’s many bars, singing, dancing and generally behaving in a mischievous fashion.
With three performances a day I do not doubt the historical significance of the event and yet suspect that it’s popularity today is certainly helped and fuelled by large quantities of alcohol!
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