Tag Archives: Doudou

The Doudou and “The Angel of Mons: A World War I Legend

Each Trinity Sunday in Mons, Belgium two important ceremonies are performed. In the morning the sacred relics of St. Waudru, abbess of a collegiate convent she founded in the Seventh Century, are paraded through the streets, carried on the carte d’or, a cart covered in gold leaf. Later in the day, the city celebrates the battle between St. George and the dragon. There are records from 1440 the ceremony was already ancient. The Ducasse de Mons, the Doudou, and the Lucomon are names for the same ceremony.

The cart d'or containing the relics of St. Waudru
The cart d’or containing the relics of St. Waudru

In April, 2015 Mons opened five new museums. One is dedicated to the history of the Doudou.

The Ducasse de Mons celebrations are recognized as one of the UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Read about the ceremonies and their connection to the Angel of Mons: A World War I Legend in Chapter Four, “The Priest’s Sermon: St. George and Mons.”

The Doudou version of the dragon who St. George defeats.
The Doudou version of the dragon who St. George defeats.

There are several YouTube presentations of the ceremony worth seeing. I am not sure I would like to be part of the throng myself. Too many people for me.

A scene from the Doudou
A scene from the Doudou
A scene from the Doudou
A scene from the Doudou