IN PICTURES: Dunkirk - France's craziest carnival
There was plenty of colour at the Dunkirk Carnival in northern France this weekend, with the streets teeming with people demanding "the herring they deserve". Seriously.
The annual festival 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 2017's festivities:
#carnaval #Dunkerque Les harengs volent!!! pic.twitter.com/V5QHqdSzwk
— CarnavalPhare (@CarnavalPhare) February 26, 2017
It all kicked off with the black cat ball.
Dunkirk city in France prepares the carnival that started with "the ball of the black cat" for 3 months... pic.twitter.com/ZK4lbkdHqE
— NickyBrendon FanClub (@BayaGabrielle) February 8, 2017
Revellers filled the streets till late.
Dunkirk's carnival #Dunkirk #Dunkerque pic.twitter.com/f4sxKhvPHi
— Whitney (@Forest_AndTrees) February 26, 2017
And the colourful costumes didn't disappoint.
Make way for Dunkirk Carnival! France's most weird and wonderful festival is in full swing https://t.co/7GSMWFXMNl : Ville de Dunkerque pic.twitter.com/hWd6CqiLY1
— Eurotunnel LeShuttle (@LeShuttle) February 24, 2017
Even Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal made an appearance.
Merci de m'avoir invitée au #Carnaval #Dunkerque 30.000 personnes joyeuses et soudées pour le lancer de harengs tradi pic.twitter.com/rxsLIb1h6j
— Ségolène Royal (@RoyalSegolene) February 26, 2017
Umbrellas and plumage were popular as ever.
Allez c'est partie pour la bande à @Dunkerque #Dunkerque #carnaval pic.twitter.com/HOKJG6TbtQ
— fred decuyper (@FredDecuyper) February 26, 2017
The carnival could soon be protected under UNESCO world heritage.
Le #carnaval de #Dunkerque classé par l’#UNESCO ? Et pourquoi pas… https://t.co/tuGeTt25mR pic.twitter.com/rlyyOnZ8uS
— La Voix du Nord (@lavoixdunord) February 26, 2017
The music was in full swing too.
Le carnaval de Dunkerque, entre fête populaire et ode aux pêcheurs https://t.co/ojLLyT4I9e pic.twitter.com/u3VsC4LacU
— LCI (@LCI) February 27, 2017
The carnival ends with everyone gathering together for the "rigodon", joining hands to sing the carnival's anthem
C'est l'heure du rigodon #Carnaval #Dunkerque pic.twitter.com/H57mcnpggG
— Gauthier Hénon (@gth_henon) February 26, 2017
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#carnaval #Dunkerque Les harengs volent!!! pic.twitter.com/V5QHqdSzwk
— CarnavalPhare (@CarnavalPhare) February 26, 2017
It all kicked off with the black cat ball.
Dunkirk city in France prepares the carnival that started with "the ball of the black cat" for 3 months... pic.twitter.com/ZK4lbkdHqE
— NickyBrendon FanClub (@BayaGabrielle) February 8, 2017
Revellers filled the streets till late.
Dunkirk's carnival #Dunkirk #Dunkerque pic.twitter.com/f4sxKhvPHi
— Whitney (@Forest_AndTrees) February 26, 2017
And the colourful costumes didn't disappoint.
Make way for Dunkirk Carnival! France's most weird and wonderful festival is in full swing https://t.co/7GSMWFXMNl : Ville de Dunkerque pic.twitter.com/hWd6CqiLY1
— Eurotunnel LeShuttle (@LeShuttle) February 24, 2017
Even Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal made an appearance.
Merci de m'avoir invitée au #Carnaval #Dunkerque 30.000 personnes joyeuses et soudées pour le lancer de harengs tradi pic.twitter.com/rxsLIb1h6j
— Ségolène Royal (@RoyalSegolene) February 26, 2017
Umbrellas and plumage were popular as ever.
Allez c'est partie pour la bande à @Dunkerque #Dunkerque #carnaval pic.twitter.com/HOKJG6TbtQ
— fred decuyper (@FredDecuyper) February 26, 2017
The carnival could soon be protected under UNESCO world heritage.
Le #carnaval de #Dunkerque classé par l’#UNESCO ? Et pourquoi pas… https://t.co/tuGeTt25mR pic.twitter.com/rlyyOnZ8uS
— La Voix du Nord (@lavoixdunord) February 26, 2017
The music was in full swing too.
Le carnaval de Dunkerque, entre fête populaire et ode aux pêcheurs https://t.co/ojLLyT4I9e pic.twitter.com/u3VsC4LacU
— LCI (@LCI) February 27, 2017
The carnival ends with everyone gathering together for the "rigodon", joining hands to sing the carnival's anthem
C'est l'heure du rigodon #Carnaval #Dunkerque pic.twitter.com/H57mcnpggG
— Gauthier Hénon (@gth_henon) February 26, 2017
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