Dunkirk carnival: Where crowds demand herrings
Oliver Gee - [email protected]
Published: 16 Feb, 2015 CET.
Updated: Mon 16 Feb 2015 11:07 CET
This weekend saw plenty of colour at the Dunkirk Carnival in northern France, with the streets teeming with people demanding "the herring they deserve". Seriously.
The annual festival, which takes place in the city of Dunkirk, northern France kicked off on Sunday with an estimated 40,000 revellers taking to the streets. The carnival is known for its colourful vibe, with locals and tourists alike taking the chance to dress up and march, dance, and sing. Many people wear yellow fishermen's coats, as the tradition dates back to when local fishermen would feast before heading off to sea. Documents suggest the carnival has origins as far back as 1676. The march is capped off by the crowd chanting that they want the "herring they deserve", and 450 kilos of herring is then thrown to the crowd from the balcony of the Town Hall. Only in France, you might say. Take a look at some of the colourful characters from the festivities: 
(Another reveller. Photo: AFP) Carnaval des trois joyeuses à Dunkerque. http://t.co/tdYtALx8a8
— kerboua (@kercam) February 16, 2015
#Carnaval de #Dunkerque: café,brioche,soupe à l'oignon…Bon réveil à la chapelle de la mairie ! http://t.co/acCzUGrR9I pic.twitter.com/9B4TzhV5F9
— La Voix du Nord web (@lavoixdunord) February 15, 2015
Au carnaval de Dunkerque, dans la "chapelle" de Jean Chatroussat, 85 ans http://t.co/bGnVshWQbX via @AfpLille #AFP pic.twitter.com/53rt4KIfAl
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) February 15, 2015
Carnaval de Nice annulé cause pluie. Temps superbe à Dunkerque pour la bande des Pêcheurs. #JDCJDR pic.twitter.com/JCi9pBR15q
— Stef B (@small_pie) February 16, 2015
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The annual festival, which takes place in the city of Dunkirk, northern France kicked off on Sunday with an estimated 40,000 revellers taking to the streets.
The carnival is known for its colourful vibe, with locals and tourists alike taking the chance to dress up and march, dance, and sing.
Many people wear yellow fishermen's coats, as the tradition dates back to when local fishermen would feast before heading off to sea. Documents suggest the carnival has origins as far back as 1676.
The march is capped off by the crowd chanting that they want the "herring they deserve", and 450 kilos of herring is then thrown to the crowd from the balcony of the Town Hall.
Only in France, you might say.
Take a look at some of the colourful characters from the festivities:
(Another reveller. Photo: AFP)
Carnaval des trois joyeuses à Dunkerque. http://t.co/tdYtALx8a8
— kerboua (@kercam) February 16, 2015 #Carnaval de #Dunkerque: café,brioche,soupe à l'oignon…Bon réveil à la chapelle de la mairie ! http://t.co/acCzUGrR9I pic.twitter.com/9B4TzhV5F9
— La Voix du Nord web (@lavoixdunord) February 15, 2015 Au carnaval de Dunkerque, dans la "chapelle" de Jean Chatroussat, 85 ans http://t.co/bGnVshWQbX via @AfpLille #AFP pic.twitter.com/53rt4KIfAl
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) February 15, 2015 Carnaval de Nice annulé cause pluie. Temps superbe à Dunkerque pour la bande des Pêcheurs. #JDCJDR pic.twitter.com/JCi9pBR15q
— Stef B (@small_pie) February 16, 2015
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